There was a moment in the middle of the afternoon Saturday at Royal Portrush where it still felt like anything was possible at the 2025 Open Championship. All scenarios were still on the table. Hope ran rampant around the property as the third round trundled on and player after player made birdie after birdie.

McIlroy received a rock star ovation on the first tee in scenes akin to the reception players receive when starring in A-list team events such as the Ryder Cup. And the cries from the crowd continued onto the course but they had little effect on Scheffler who marched to the beat of his own tune.

Rory McIlroy’s dreams for Open Championship success appear to be over as Scottie Scheffler closes in on victory at Royal Portrush Golf Club.

The top two golfers in the world are firmly in contention at The Open with Scheffler out in front entering another major championship weekend

Follow live as golf’s oldest major begins at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland with all eyes on local star Rory McIlroy

Scottie Scheffler is the No. 1 golfer in the world, but even he doesn't really understand the fuss. Just two days before the year's final major tees off, Scheffler admitted he doesn't understand "the point" of becoming the best golfer in the world - or an elite professional in any sport,

Rory McIlroy gave the home crowd plenty to roar about on Saturday, but he's playing a distant fifth on the leaderboard

Rory, spurred on by the thousands of Northern Irish fans at Royal Portrush, posted a 66 to head into Sunday six shots back of leader Scottie Scheffler.