Horschel shines in rain to lead Open after brutal third round

TROON, Scotland :American Billy Horschel produced a masterful round in atrocious conditions on Saturday to lead the British Open as the field bunched up for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the battle for the Claret Jug at Royal Troon.

While the Ayrshire links released its grip earlier in the day to allow several players to zoom into contention with sizzling third rounds, the leaders faced heavy rain and a chill wind in what became a battle for survival.

Florida native Horschel, playing in shirt sleeves when everyone else was decked out in waterproofs, carded a two-under 69 to head in to Sunday's climax on five under.

South Africa's Thriston Lawrence and American Sam Burns took advantage of benign conditions early in the day with six-under 65s while Russell Henley shot 66 to move into a large chasing group all on three under.

England's Open debutant Dan Brown battled superbly in the final pairing with overnight leader Shane Lowry and was the outright leader when he birdied the 16th to reach six under.

But the brutal conditions finally caught up with him as he bogeyed the long par-three 17th which he and Lowry both needed a driver to try to reach off the tee.

Qualifier Brown then double-bogeyed the 18th to fall back to three under but will still have high hopes on Sunday.

For Ireland's Lowry, champion in 2019, his round unravelled after leading on eight under after a birdie at the fourth.

With the conditions worsening on the back nine, Lowry bogeyed five of his last eight holes to end on one under.

PGA champion Xander Schauffele was also in the bunch on three under after plotting a tidy 69 while Justin Rose, who had to qualify this year, ground out a two-over 73 to also end the day on three under and keep himself