We’ve got one final round at Royal Portrush, and—shocker—Scottie Scheffler leads the way after 54 holes.
This venue, which demands elite positioning off the tee and rewards high-level mid-iron play, fits the world No. 1 like a glove. It’s no surprise he’s on top. Portrush is the Open setup for Scheffler’s game.
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Will Sunday bring any drama? Or are we headed for a wire-to-wire, drama-free Scottie win in Northern Ireland?
Let’s break down three players with the upside to make a run and possibly shake things up.
Rory McIlroy (-8)
No surprise here. Rory is in position to go full-send on Sunday in his home country. He’s sitting at 8-under and won’t have to navigate the pressure of leading—just the opportunity to chase.
The vibes are right: strong narrative, no lead to protect, and clear momentum. He gained strokes across the board in Round 3, posting a smooth 66. If the driver stays dialed, he’s more than capable of going really low.
Rory’s the most dangerous man in golf when he’s freed up—and Sunday sets up perfectly for that.
Nicolai Højgaard (-6)
The more volatile the player, the better their ceiling—and Nicolai is built for chaos.
Sitting at 6-under, Højgaard brings high-end iron play and the ability to go nuclear. This is a guy who can shoot anything from 63 to 83, and that kind of volatility is exactly what it takes to chase down a front-runner like Scheffler.
If his irons catch fire early, we could see a leaderboard jolt.
Lucas Glover (-4)
Glover is one of the best course fits at Portrush. He’s been striping it all week with the irons—no surprise there. The only thing holding him back is the putter.
He has the distance to be aggressive and comfortable off the tee. If a few putts fall early, Glover has the ball-striking to rocket into the top five… or better.
Don’t be surprised if Glover leads the field in greens in regulation. It’s just a matter of converting some looks.
Final Thought
It’s Scottie’s to lose. But if you’re looking for players who can post something scary and force him to win the thing rather than cruise, Rory, Nicolai, and Glover are your best bets.
Whether you’re holding outright tickets, sweating DFS lineups, or just hoping for Sunday fireworks—these are your guys.
