Whose tournament is it, anyway? If you listen to certain commentators and pundits, they will tell you that it still feels like Rory McIlroy’s Open Championship. If you’ve watched, attended in person, or followed on the app, you might be of a different opinion. Scottie Scheffler owns a four-shot advantage after three rounds, thanks to a day of complete mastery of himself and the golf course. Some might suggest, reasonably so, that it is Scheffler’s Open Championship. Thanks to their performances, and the work of the grounds crew, the administration, and the other competitors, the 153rd playing of the Open Championship belongs to all of us. The one shame is that a single round remains, but if it is anything like the first three days, we have much to anticipate.

Three days of golf do not define a major champion. The entirety of each, grand slam event determines the eventual champion. The keeper of the Claret Jug might be one of the aforementioned duo, and it might also be Li or Fitzpatrick, Gotterup or Hatton. Three days of rain begin on Monday, but Sunday looks to be as benign as the first trio of orbits. Royal Portrush won’t depend on nature to determine its third Open champion. Instead, it will offer up the caroms and ricochets, the elasticity that define links golf. With that to savor, let’s look at five things that we learned on Saturday at the Open Championship.

1. Who else but Scheffler?

Scottie Scheffler began day three with a one-shot advantage over playing companion Matt Fitzpatrick. Scheffler played his finest round of the week, from tee to green. Through six holes, he had little to show for his work, or did he? No putts for birdie had fallen, and he found himself tied with Fitzpatrick at ten-under par, but Scheffler knew that they eventually would. On the par-five seventh, Scheffler found the green with his second shot, playing the bound to perfection. His ten-feet for eagle dropped, and Scheffler moved to 12-under par. He would add two birdies, at eight and sixteen, and finish off a third round in the 60s. Three other golfers also hold cards in the sixties from each round, but Scheffler is the only one who has lived in the mid-60s each day. While no name is yet inscribed in the Claret Jug, it’s difficult to look beyond Scheffler. With a victory, he would add a third major title to his career arc, and seek only the US Open to complete the career grand slam. First things first, and let’s begin to enjoy the final round, twenty hours before it commences.

2. Who else but Rory?

The Rory McIlroy that arrived at Royal Portrush in 2019, was a shadow of the man who made the weekend this year. 2019 Rory felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. A half decade had passed since his last major title, and the man that everyone thought he was chasing, had just won a fifth Masters. It was no surprise that McIlroy went away quietly that year, failing to qualify for the final 36 holes.

In 2025, McIlroy arrived at his homeland with a career grand slam draped around his shoulders, in pantone 342. His goal was much simpler this time around: make the weekend. Survive the cut. Keep the ball inbounds off the first tee. Having done all those things with comfort, Rory McIlroy was freed by expectation and allowed to celebrate on Saturday. This he did, to the tune of four birdies and an eagle, for a round of 66. McIlroy even caused the day’s most lighthearted moment, unintentional as it was.

McIlroy will accompany Matt Fitzpatrick over the final eighteen holes. Rory will need to make up six shots on the leader, and the odds do not favor him. Victory doesn’t really matter, though. Rory has already won the week, as he has won the year, and won his career. Sunday will be nothing more than a glorious, five-hour smilefest, hug-off, and fist bump. Who among us would not crave such a clebration?

3. Can Haotong do what none has done before?

No golfer from China has won a men’s major championship. Shanshan Feng and Ruoning Yin each capture a women’s PGA championship, but no men thus far. In 2017, Li placed third at the Open Championship, the best major finish thus far by a male golfer from his country. On Saturday at Portrush, Li avoided near-disaster on a few occasions, recorded four birdies against two bogeys, and signed for 69. He stands at ten-under par, and will escort Scheffler over the course of the tournament’s final round. Can he do what none has done before?

Haotong Li must overcome a four-shot deficit on Sunday. In truth, it should be more. The likelihood of Scheffler shooting over par is remote, meaning that Scheffler should post no worse than 69. Li would need 63 to force a playoff, and 62 to win outright. Along the way, Li will need an eagle or two, and will need to make zero mistakes. Li is a world-class competitor, capable of a glorious performance. Sunday, July 20th will need to offer such an opportunity to Li. Golf has a way of making those things happen.

4. If not for Scottie and Ted…

We might be talking about Matt Fitzpatrick, or Tyrrell Hatton, or Chris Gotterup, or Harris English. All are eight shots under par or better. Each has played marvelous golf, overcoming the impediments, challenges, and uncertainties of Harry Colt’s Dunluce course at Royal Portrush. It’s not quite as bad as calling them the “A Flight” in the club championship, but it’s not far off. Fitzpatrick has a major championship on his Wikipedia page. English has a runner-up at this year’s PGA, and two, top-five placements at the US Open. Hatton owns seven, top-ten plaements at majors, the best being t4 at the 2025 US Open. As for Gotterup, well, he won the Scottish Open last week, but has no finishes of note in major events.

Scheffler and Ted Scott make for a wonderful player-caddie partnership, as do Rory McIlroy and Harry Diamond. Caddie changes have been a constant this year, with high-profile players like Max Homa and Collin Morikawa looking for that Jerry Maguie magic that Scheffler and McIlroy have with their loopers.

It’s likely that one of the four golfers at eight- and nine-under par will play a terrific round on Sunday, and elevate to a runner-up placement. It could serve as a springboard to an eventual, major title, or it might be the hallmark of his career. No matter the outcome, as members of the ensemble, they will feature importantly in Sunday’s denouement.

5. What I think you think will happen

Even with Rory’s Masters triumph in April, the Open Championship has delivered the finest parliament of golfers in contention for a major title this year. Let’s begin with Captain America, Keegan Bradley. He’ll tee off at 12:10 with Christian Bezuidenhout. Bradley isn’t in contention for the Open title, but he is rumored to be considering himself as a selection for the USA Ryder Cup side that he captains. A solid finish should convince Keegan to call on Keegan to play in September.

The Hojgaard twins tee off at 1:40 and 1:50, respectively. We’re not sure which is which, but it doesn’t really matter. Nicolai and Rasmus are a step or two away from winning one of these big events. What each needs is a 65 on Sunday, to salve any battle scars a bit, and to set the stage for future triumph.

Xander Schauffele tees off at 2:00, in the fourth-from-last game of the day. His defense of his 2024 triumph has been notable and admirable. 2025 has not been the most successful of years for the Californiana, especially on the heels of his two-major year in 2024. He’ll not win a major this year, but he will compete for the FedEx Cup and the Ryder Cup in August and September. Those events will situate him well for the 2026 campaign.

My prediction offers very little imagination. Scottie Scheffler will post 67 on day four, finish at 18-under par, and win by five over Haotong Li. Li will fade a bit on the opening seven holes, but will rebound on the closing eleven, to finish solo second.