Matthew Lewis/R&ASOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – JULY 20: Branden Grace of South Africa hits his second shot on the 2nd hole during the first round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 20, 2017 in Southport, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)The conditions and course setup at Birkdale were perfect for somebody to go out and shoot a low number. But the player still had to hit the shots.
That player was Branden Grace. Feasting on rain-softened greens and an almost complete lack of wind, Grace made eight birdies against no bogeys to become the first person to shoot 62 in a men's major championship. It always helps to have a compliant putter, but the magic in Grace's round came from relentlessly pure ball-striking. He hit 70 percent of his fairways while averaging 310 yards off the tee, and hit 16 out of 18 greens.
“Low scores come from being able to control the golf ball. The best players have great awareness and control over the clubface,” says ..

Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesChina's Li Haotong shakes hands with Ernie Els on the 18th green at Royal Birkdale after shooting a 63 in the final round of the 2017 Open Championship.SOUTHPORT, England — If the name Li Haotong rings a bell for American golf fans, it’s likely because of the China native’s antics just three weeks ago at the HNA Open de France. Or more aptly the antics of his mom.
When the then-frustrated second-year European Tour pro deposited his putter into a lake at Le Golf National during a fit of temper, mom became a viral sensation by going into the water to retrieve the club.
The 21-year-old Li wanted no part of the talking about his mom’s swim, implying it’s a bit of a sore point in the Li household. “Next question, please,” he joked in the steady English he learned by playing the Web.com Tour in 2015. But he sure was happy to chat about the latest bit of amusement: a closing 63 at Royal Birkdale that vaulted him into shouting distance of the leaders at the Op..

ANDY BUCHANANUS golfer Jordan Spieth reacts on the 18th green after his third round on day three of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north west England on July 22, 2017.Jordan Spieth will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the British Open after shooting a bogey-free third round of 65 to go to 11 under par on Saturday at Royal Birkdale. / AFP PHOTO / Andy BUCHANAN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty Images)SOUTHPORT, England — With the way people are talking, one might assume that Jordan Spieth's name has already been engraved on the claret jug. The two-time major champ holds a three-shot lead over Matt Kuchar entering the final round of the 146th British Open, and he's six shots clear of Brooks Koepka and Austin Connelly in third place. Spieth will likely claim the claret jug, but he's far from a lock.
At least, according to The Economist's EAGLE, a statistical predic..

Richard Heathcote/R&ASOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – JULY 23: Jordan Spieth of the United States celebrates a birdie putt on the 16th hole during the final round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 23, 2017 in Southport, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)SOUTHPORT, England — And so we've arrived at the final round of the 146th British Open where partly sunny skies and calm conditions are greeting the early twosomes off at Royal Birkdale. But for how long? That's the second biggest question being asked this Sunday, as weather forecasts hint at a windier afternoon on Sunday than Saturday, which produced Branden Grace's historic 62, along with “a few spots of rain.” Of course, the biggest question is whether anyone can catch Jordan Spieth given his seemingly rock-solid form, the three-stroke edge he has on Matt Kuchar and the six-plus stroke margin on the rest of the field. What's in store for the golfers on Sunday? Stay right her..

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesJordan Spieth acknowledges the crowd during the third round of the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.SOUTHPORT, England — And so we've arrived at the final round of the 146th British Open where partly sunny skies and calm conditions are greeting the early twosomes off at Royal Birkdale. But for how long? That's the second biggest question being asked this Sunday, as weather forecasts hint at a windier afternoon on Sunday than Saturday, which produced Branden Grace's historic 62, along with “a few spots of rain.” Of course, the biggest question is whether anyone can catch Jordan Spieth given his seemingly rock-solid form, the three-stroke edge he has on Matt Kuchar and the six-plus stroke margin on the rest of the field. What's in store for the golfers on Sunday? Stay right here for all the latest news, scores and highlights.
(All times local)
4:47 PM: Just when you think Rory is going to make things interesting, he blasts one o..

Copyright USGA/Jeff HaynesNoah Goodwin holds the trophy after winning during the championship match at the 2017 U.S. Junior Amateur at Flint Hills National Golf Club.There is no shortage of USGA champions who overcame significant match-play deficits to claim their titles. Noah Goodwin can add himself to the list.
The 17-year-old from Corinth, Texas, was 4 down with eight holes remaining to Matthew Wolff in the scheduled 36-hole finale of the 70th U.S. Junior Amateur at Flint Hills National G.C. in Andover, Kan., yet walked away with a 1-up victory and the most prestigious title in junior golf. It was the second-largest comeback in U.S. Junior history behind Phillip Barbaree being 5 down with eight to play only to win in 37 holes in 2015.
In the process, Goodwin, No. 27 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, avenged his defeat in the 2016 U.S. Junior final to Min Woo Lee and joined Mason Rudolph (1950) and Tim Straub (1983) as the only players to follow up a runner-up finish with a victory ..

FacebookPinterestDan MullanJordan Spieth celebrates a birdie on the 18th green during the third round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

SOUTHPORT, England — Sunday is very big for Jordan Spieth.
Through 54 holes, with a three-stroke lead, he’s been the best player at Royal Birkdale by a lot. Though he’s already got two majors at age 23, having gone now two years since his last one has caused the trauma at the 2016 Masters to linger in the collective memory – and probably Spieth’s as well – too long. Capturing the Open on Sunday would accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.
It’s true that in golf, no one wins them all, or even most of them. But it’s a cruel reality that major setbacks, if not made up for and healed quickly, can seriously inhibit the destinies of great talents.
Sam Snead was haunted enough by blowing the 1939 U.S. Open that he never won that championship. Conversely, in 1946 Ben Hogan lost both the Masters and U…