Ludvig Åberg will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Scottish Open but Ryder Cup teammate Bob MacIntyre will be breathing down his neck for an emotional win on home soil.
Åberg started the day with a one-shot advantage at The Renaissance Club but trailed MacIntyre by two on the back nine as the Scot carded a 63 to delight the home crowd and propel himself up the leaderboard.
The Swede then bogeyed the 16th and 17th, however, to post a 65 and get to 17 under as he claimed his first Rolex Series victory.
The home fans will be looking to MacIntyre after he was denied victory last year by a birdie-birdie finish to finish second in the final to Rory McIlroy but his Ryder Cup team-mate Åberg looked unlikely to stumble in a 64-64 round. -65 so far.
Adam Scott carded a 64 alongside MacIntyre to stay at 14 under, a shot ahead of Americans Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala, Sungjae Im of South Korea and Frenchman Antoine Rozner.
Åberg said: “It wasn't the most stressful round of golf but it was a good score as well. I was pleased with how I hung there. I felt like I was swinging well and hitting putts the way I wanted to and I tried to learn them. I like to look at the leaderboards. I think it's important to know where you stand, and I did that today, and I saw some really good points early on. It makes you hungry and it makes you stay on the front foot and be aggressive, and I felt like I did that well today. It looks like I'm playing the last round with Bob, so it's going to be a cool pairing and I'm looking forward to it.”
MacIntyre said: “I'm delighted. Overall I played with absolute brilliance. Tee-to-green was tight as well. The putter is well rolled. We just have to let it happen. It's good to come home and have support at home. From the beginning I said I wanted to have a chance to enter on Sunday and I did that.
“I have been able to control myself and hold myself well until now. I have 18 holes for even more control. I have not been shy to say that the Scottish Open is what I want. It won't change tomorrow.”
For the full leaderboard, click here.
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