Billy Horschel holds one-shot lead at rainy Open Championship - ESPN

TROON, Scotland — Billy Horschel with his short sleeves in the chill and his brilliant short game at Royal Troon somehow held on for a 2-under 69 and a one-shot lead in an Open Championship that got turned upside down and every other possible way Saturday.

The rain started before the leading players teed off and only got stronger. The wind was relentless and into the players' faces on the brute of a back nine, leaving the world's best to hit fairway metals into par 4s — and they still couldn't reach the green.

«That's the hardest nine holes I think you could ever play in golf right now,» said Dustin Johnson, a former world No. 1 with two majors. He shot 72 and was five behind.

It was as tough as it gets and Horschel was up to the task with a series of marvelous par saves down the stretch from the rough and from pot bunkers.

Shane Lowry couldn't say the same, and the frustration was evident.

Lowry, who showed his game is built for links golf when he won at Royal Portrush five years ago, had a three-shot lead early and then fell apart. He played the final 11 holes in 7 over, starting with a double bogey from the Coffin bunker on the 123-yard «Postage Stamp» eighth hole. One last bogey gave him a 77 and left him three behind.

«There's no doubt I'm going to go out there tomorrow thinking I can win the tournament,» Lowry said. «But it's just hard right now. Ten minutes ago I had to putt for par on the 18th green, and I'm here talking to you guys now trying to figure out how I shot 77 in my own head.»

It was like that for everyone, at least those who faced four-plus hours in the worst of it.

Thriston Lawrence of South Africa teed off more than three hours before the final group, had six birdies in eight holes and posted a 65.