When Rory McIlroy arrived at the tenth hole during Saturday’s third round of the British Open, he was one shot back. Shortly thereafter, he was in the lead.
McIlroy’s tee shot on the par-four found a greenside bunker, which must have been to McIlroy’s liking. He blasted out of the bunker and onto the green. Then, as had happened with his friend Shane Lowry earlier in the day, McIlroy’s ball found the hole and dropped in for an eagle.
Rory. McIlroy.#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/ZgVKfXf8ie
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2022
McIlroy has been a crowd favorite at St. Andrews throughout the week. That sentiment is shared by those watching elsewhere.
McIlroy’s fantastic eagle from the bunker inspired a happy reaction from those following the Open from their living rooms.
What a shot by Rory, that was an all-time highlight
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) July 16, 2022
RORY ROAR!!!!
— trey wingo (@wingoz) July 16, 2022
On a scale of 1-10, that shot on 10 by Rory? pic.twitter.com/tmf4yzRdif
— trey wingo (@wingoz) July 16, 2022
RORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— House (@HousefromDC) July 16, 2022
That was one of the most incredible shots I’ve seen in a major championship.
Perfect wedge hole out from bunker on 10th for eagle.
Rory Flipping McIlroy
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) July 16, 2022
Rory has definitely up'd the aggressive commitment in his wedge play follow throughs this week!💥 https://t.co/mk8wrtMmcc
— Sir Nick Faldo (@NickFaldo006) July 16, 2022
Inject this into my veins!! pic.twitter.com/QKkCsPwa1T
— The McIlroy Legion (@RoryLegion_GC) July 16, 2022
The eagle moved McIlroy into first place on his own, though that did not last long. McIlroy’s playing partner, Viktor Hovland — who made a dramatic eagle of his own on Friday — answered McIlroy’s eagle on No. 10 with a birdie to tie things up. It’s also far from a two-horse race. The leaderboard is crowded and has a great mix of big, established names and budding stars.
So, even before McIlroy’s eagle, it already seemed like a dramatic and exciting finish was ahead of us. That shot did nothing to dispell that feeling.
[The Open]
