Lowry leads The Open by Four after sensational course record in Portrush

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& # 39; This is glorious stuff & # 39; – Lowry lights up Open with eight-birdie 63

The 148th Open Championship – third ranking leaderboard-16 S Lowry (Ire); – 12 T Fleetwood (Eng); – 10 JB Holmes (USA); – 9 B Koepka (USA), J Rose (Eng); – 8 R Fowler (USA), L Westwood; -7 D Willett (Eng), J Rahm (Spa), T Finau (US), J Spieth (United States) Other selected: -2 G McDowell (NI), D Johnson (US), -1 S Garcia (Spa) , E Els (SA); + 2 P Casey (Eng)

Shane Lowry from Ireland produced one of the big big championship rounds with a sensational eight-in-a-row 63 that led him to a four-shot to Sunday's final round of The Open .

Lowry, who called it "one of the most incredible days of my life", played eight birdies to finish at 16 in general at Royal Portrush.

Tommy Fleetwood from England is the closest rival to Lowry on 12 under 66.

JB Holmes is third out of 10 under, a head of Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka.

World number one Koepka, who won the US PGA Championship this year and finished runner-up with the Masters and the US. Open, closed with consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to keep himself in the race to win a fifth major in his last 10 games.

But the day belonged to 32-year-old Lowry who started the day next to Holmes next to Holmes and was in a sensational form from the first hole to the last, and 17 of the 18 greens hit regulation when he set a new course record.

A partisan crowd on the Northern Irish course cheered his little bird, the sound was so raw that Fleetwood and playing partner Lee Westwood, who were in the front group, had to wait to play their tee shots at the 18th.

And there were incredible scenes when Lowry finished the last one. Scenes usually reserved for the final day of the championship, as fans were applauding and cheering up their husbands when he played a memorable round.

With adverse weather forecast for Sunday, the start times are early start time at 7:32 AM and the leaders start their final lap at 1:47 PM BST.

Fleetwood, Holmes & Koepka in best photos from day three

& # 39; Nowhere would I rather be & # 39;

With my favorite Rory McIlroy – who shot a 61 on this course before two new holes were made at the Dunluce Links for the Open – half the way from the missing Friday, fans put their support behind Lowry, and he stood up for the occasion.

He came agonisingly close to matching the 64-year record of Branden Grace, which was held two years ago at The Open in Birkdale, but missed his bet on birdie on the 18th by an inch.

Nevertheless, his 16-under total of 197 is the lowest after 54 holes in Open history and he has, so far, shown small signs of faltering in his pursuit of a first major success.

The Open 2019: Shane Lowry struggles with recording a great third round

Even when Fleetwood came up on the leaderboard, Lowry maintained his calm and took a shot at the par-five fourth before taking the direct lead with a new win on the 12th before consecutive birdies at 15, 16 and 17 took his advantage stretched to four.

And amid the chaotic scenes on the 18th as Lowry piste for par, his playing partner Holmes played a birdie-putt to put a positive end to a mixed round.

The American had kept pace with Lowry through the first 12 holes, sinking three birdies without dropping a shot, but bogeys on the 13th and 14th allowed Lowry to move clearly. Holmes finished with a two-under 69 and starts the sixth round on Sunday on the pace.

However, Lowry knows as well as everyone else that there is still a long way to go. Three years ago he went to the final round of the US Open with a lead of only four times to let that tournament slip out of his hands with a final round 76.

"I hope I will be able to handle it better, "said Lowry. "I know it will be difficult and difficult, but hopefully I am ready.

" I have a tough 24 hours ahead, but there is nowhere that I would rather be. I have a lead of four shots in an Open in Ireland. Sunday becomes incredible no matter what happens. "

Fleetwood enthusiastic for & # 39; special Sunday & # 39;

Fleetwood hopes to become the first English winner of the Open since Nick Faldo (photo) triumphed 27 years ago

However, awaiting discussion, Lowry should perish, Fleetwood.

The native mother from Southport aspires to be the first English winner of the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992 and he, like Lowry, made the best use of the calm conditions to make a low score on the front nine and hit three birdies to reach the turn in three under.

Fleetwood picked up another birdie on par-five 12th but ended up with six straight pars to place a bogey-free 66.

"We will see what happens, but the Sunday will be special and very loud," Fleetwood told BBC Radio 5 live.

"It will be a challenge to keep your concentration all day long, but I would not have it any other way."

Mixed rounds for warring Englishmen

& # 39; Exploding into life & # 39; – Rose eagles 12th and birdies 13th

England & # 39; s Rose, who finished in second place during last year's Open Championship at Carnoustie, threatened to harass the leaders when an eagle in the par-five 12th followed by two birdies took him to pushed the leaderboard.

However, a bogey on the par-three 16th meant he finished with a three-under-68 and will start seven shots behind Lowry on Sunday, alongside Koepka, who shot six birdies and two bogeys.

Compatriot Lee Westwood climbed shortly after a run of three consecutive birdies from the second to the top of the rankings, hoping that the 46-year-old could finally break his most important duck, but his form slipped to the back nine and two bogeys meant he signed for a 70 to finish eight.

& # 39; Oh my god & # 39; – Willett birdies the fifth en route to round 65

But it was a good day for 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett when the Yorkshireman shot the second lowest total of the day.

The 31-year-old hit six birdies without throwing a shot, leading him to the Clubhouse halfway through the round, but Lowry & # 39; s sparkling display probably leaves Willett need a strong final round to put himself in the battle to plunge for a second big win.