The 2026 Open Championship is underway, and the drama is heating up! With the final round in full swing, the leaderboard is shifting rapidly, and the race for the Claret Jug is far from over. Here's a breakdown of the latest updates and highlights:
Leaderboard Changes
- S.W. Kim is maintaining a 1-stroke lead, with a clean card so far on the day. He's looking to become the first Asian-born player to win the Open.
- Cameron Young and Ryan Fox are tied for second place, both at 9 under. Young, in particular, is making a strong comeback, having come from four strokes back earlier in the tournament.
- Sam Burns is in third place, 1 stroke back from the lead. He's had a strong performance, shooting a 62 earlier in the week.
- Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood are in a four-way tie for fourth place, both at 8 under. Fleetwood made a stunning 73-foot birdie putt on his first hole, thrilling the hometown fans.
Birdie-Birdie Start
- Scheffler started the final round with two birdies, moving to 6 under and four back. He's been consistent, with five straight '3's on his card through five holes.
- Young also had a birdie-birdie start, moving to 7 under and three off the lead. He's been on fire, with four birdies in five holes.
Back-to-Back Bogeys
- S.W. Kim lost the lead after back-to-back bogeys on holes 11 and 12. This allowed Young and Kim to take the lead.
- Scheffler had a wild series of shots on the 17th hole, resulting in a bogey. He's now 1 stroke back from the lead.
Final Pairing
- Sam Burns and Ryan Fox are in the final pairing, with Burns holding a 2-shot lead over Fox, Si Woo Kim, and Cameron Young.
Final Thoughts
The final round of the 2026 Open Championship is shaping up to be an exciting one. With so many players in contention, anything can happen. Stay tuned for more updates as the drama unfolds at Royal Birkdale!
