A Sunday sprint for the Claret Jug: Sam Burns seizes Open lead amid record-setting chaos

Sam Burns followed up his Friday 62 with a Saturday 65

Published Jul 18, 2026  •  Last updated 5 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Sam Burns of the United States lines up a putt on the 15th green on day three of the The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 18, 2026 in Southport, England. Photo by Andrew Redington /Getty Images

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SOUTHPORT, England — Despite the headlines coming out of the Open Championship over the past 24 hours, there was actual golf played at Royal Birkdale on Saturday.

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The chaotic scenes this year at the game’s oldest major have made their way to the leaderboard, where the battle for the Claret Jug has come down to a Sunday sprint for glory.

Sam Burns followed up his Friday 62 with a Saturday 65, and the American heads to the final round at 10-under par with a two-stroke lead over Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim. Burns was expected to miss this championship as his wife Caroline was expected to give birth during tournament week, but the couple’s daughter Belle was born July 3.

“Someone’s going to go out and play a great round of golf tomorrow, maybe a few people,” Burns said. “So I’m going to have to do the same. I’m going to have to go out and execute. Ultimately whatever happens, I know that I can accept the outcome, and life’s going to move on. I’ll get to go home and see my family.”

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Fox will play in the final pairing with Burns after becoming the third player this week to tie the major championship scoring record of 62. His history-tying early Saturday round vaulted him into contention and he is tied for second at eight-under with Kim.

The scoreboard above the 18th green show the lead of US golfer Sam Burns at the end of play on day three of the 154th Open Golf championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club near Southport in northwest England on July 18, 2026. Photo by Adrian Dennis /Getty Images

“Just kind of did everything nicely today, which it’s been a nice change. I haven’t been able to say that much this year,” Fox said. “To be honest, standing on the last tee, I’m thinking if I can get one on the fairway here, you can get a wedge or a 9-iron in and have a putt for 61.”

There are ten players within five strokes of the lead, but with scoring records being set on a daily basis, it’s tough to count anybody out.

“There’s great rounds out there around this golf course, which is good to know,” said hometown favourite Tommy Fleetwood, who will begin Sunday five shots back at five-under. “If I can get off to a good start, it’ll be a really cool atmosphere again.”

Friday’s overnight leader Lucas Herbert followed his 62 with a one-over 71 on Saturday, but still finds himself tied for fourth with Ryan Gerard at seven-under. One shot further back is a group of three at six-under that includes Bryson DeChambeau who has one more day to figure out if he’s going to be the main attraction or the sideshow at the season’s final major.

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A day after being docked two strokes for a rules violation, DeChambeau battled on and continued to impress as he puts to rest any thought that he doesn’t have the game or strategic mind to contend at links golf.

The LIV Golf and YouTube superstar once again didn’t speak to media following his round, but others had plenty to say about him and his actions and subsequent reactions to Friday’s rule infraction that saw him penalized two strokes for creating a better stance and swing than the course naturally would allow in the long grass at the fifth hole.

Rory McIlroy shocked onlookers by delivering a public flaying of the polarizing golf star accusing him of holding the tournament hostage with his antics and describing him as attention-seeking. McIlroy also said that he thought the penalty was “justified for sure” and touched on Bryson’s intent, saying that “it didn’t look good.”

Others, including Burns, Xander Schauffele and Russell Henley, took a kinder view of the incident and questioned whether DeChambeau should have been penalized at all.

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“I thought the fans were very supportive of Bryson today. We didn’t discuss it any,” said Burns, who played with DeChambeau. “In my personal opinion, I honestly feel bad for Bryson in the situation that he was in. From my perspective, I didn’t feel like maybe there was enough evidence for him to deserve a penalty there.”

Canada’s Corey Conners shot a one-over 71, dropping 13 places, and will begin Sunday at one-under par in a tie for 38th.

Nick Taylor shot a two-over 72 and heads to Sunday at one-over par.

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   Players call out Bryson DeChambeau for late-night Birkdale chaos

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   Rory McIlroy blasts Bryson DeChambeau: FULL TRANSCRIPT of Royal Birkdale takedown

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