Fitzpatrick and Thorbjornsen share lead as fog delays Scottish Open
Fog causes significant delays at The Renaissance Club
The Genesis Scottish Open experienced significant delays on Saturday due to dense fog, ultimately leading to the suspension of the third round. Play was halted around 8 p.m. local time as the course became engulfed in fog, with the last group preparing to play the par-3 ninth hole. This marks the second time fog has impacted play during the day, as the morning also began with a lengthy delay.
Despite the challenging conditions, Matt Fitzpatrick and Michael Thorbjornsen are currently tied for the lead at 11-under par. Fitzpatrick was 11-under par through eight holes when play was suspended, while Thorbjornsen reached 11-under par through 13 holes. Thorbjornsen notably climbed 12 places on the leaderboard on Saturday, posting a score of five under through 13 holes before his round was cut short.
Thorbjornsen commented on the unusual conditions, stating he had never witnessed such persistent fog throughout an entire day of play. He described losing sight of his ball in the air on several occasions towards the end of his round, particularly over the last three holes, necessitating a reliance on trust in his shots.
McIlroy struggles as chasing pack closes in
Rory McIlroy, who had been among the overnight leaders, struggled significantly during his third round. He slipped five shots off the pace after playing eight holes in difficult conditions at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. McIlroy made three bogeys on holes three, five, and seven before play was suspended, ending his day at six-under par. This performance was described as uncharacteristic for the Northern Irishman, who had previously delivered a strong opening round of 65.
McIlroy encountered difficulties with multiple aspects of his game, including a tee-shot on the par-three fifth hole that landed 125 yards short of the green. On the seventh hole, he cut a driver into the rough, followed by a recovery shot that moved the ball only nine yards forward into more rough. He concluded his day scrambling for par on the eighth hole after missing his approach shot.
A group of six players are currently one shot back from the co-leaders at 10-under par. This chasing pack includes defending champion Chris Gotterup, who was 10-under par through 10 holes. Also at 10-under par are Wyndham Clark (through 15 holes), Johnny Keefer, and Kevin Roy. Min Woo Lee (through eight holes) and Jordan Smith (through seven holes) are also part of this group.
Wyndham Clark, the reigning U.S. Open Champion and a two-time winner in the last two months, expressed disappointment about not being able to finish his round, having gone four under through 15 holes before the suspension. Johnny Keefer, who is the third alternate for next week’s Open Championship, climbed 22 places on the leaderboard with a low third-round score of 64. Keefer noted that the wind had changed directions three times during the week.
Former Scottish Open champion Robert MacIntyre moved to two shots back of the leaders after making two birdies on his front nine. Tom Kim, who had shared the 36-hole lead with Smith and McIlroy, maintained his score at nine-under par by making par on all seven of his opening holes.
What to expect for Sunday’s play
Tournament organizers have announced that the third round will resume at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. The final round is not scheduled to begin before 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, with players set to tee off from one tee. With 22 players still needing to complete their third round, and 24 players within four shots of the co-leaders, Sunday is anticipated to be a marathon day of golf.
The change in turf conditions is expected to soften the course, which was once a firm test. Saturday’s scoring average reflected this, with 13 players who finished their third round shooting 67 or better. Justin Thomas, ranked 11th on the PGA TOUR in 2026 for final-round scoring average, has completed his third round and is currently two strokes outside the top 20. He is on a run of six straight top-20 finishes.
A strong finish for Kevin Roy on Sunday could secure him one of the last spots available at The Open Championship, as the top three players this week not already exempt for the final major of the season at Royal Birkdale will gain a spot in the field.
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Source: pgatour.com
