Ludvig Aberg rallies to lead crowded Scottish Open by 2 - ESPN

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — Ludvig Åberg overcame a pair of bogeys early on the back nine with two late birdies that carried him to a 5-under 65 on Saturday at the Scottish Open, slightly dampening the enthusiasm of a gallery fully behind local star Robert MacIntyre.

«Not the most stress-free golf, but it was again a good score,» Aberg said. «I'm pleased with the way I hung in there and finished it out.»

The final round before most of the field heads to Royal Troon for The Open was packed with possibilities, starting with MacIntyre.

Scotland's best player, already with a PGA Tour victory this year in the Canadian Open, surged to a 2-shot lead at one point and heard his name chanted along the way. He closed with a tough bogey and still shot 63, putting him in the final group with Aberg.

«I've not been shy in saying it: The Scottish Open is the one I want,» MacIntyre said. «It's not going to change tomorrow. I'm in that position. I've been doing good things. I've been playing well, not just this week but for the previous eight weeks I feel like my game has been in good shape. Tomorrow, I've just got to control me.

»And if I do that well, then I'm going to be in with a chance."

MacIntyre looked like a winner in the Scottish Open a year ago until Rory McIlroy birdied the last hole with a 2-iron from 201 yards into a harsh wind off the Firth of Forth to deny him.

Now he's back, trying to block out the hype and cheers while knowing what it would mean.

«All I can do is hit the golf ball as well as I can and accept the outcome,» MacIntyre said.

Tougher than the expectations is chasing down Aberg, the Swedish star with the flawless swing who was at his best in a light rain to at least give himself some separation.

Aberg was at