K.J. Choi (-8) is the leader of the Senior Open at Carnoustie with 18 holes to go. The South Korean will be looking for his first Major win for over 50s this Sunday. He is in a privileged position, but if there is one thing that has become clear to him in this third round, it is that he cannot claim victory until the last putt is in. That’s Carnoustie for you, especially when the wind is blowing as it has been every day. Miguel Ángel Martín (-1) was not able to play under par this Saturday in Scotland, but he remains in the top 10, seeking his best ever result in a senior Major.
It seemed as though Choi had half the tournament in his pocket when he reached a score of -11 after making a birdie on the 14th hole. His partial score at that point was spectacular. Six birdies and a solitary bogey for a total of five under. He was delivering a brutal blow. In fact, at that point he had a five-stroke lead.
Choi had the Senior Open under control, but then the lethal Carnoustie appeared. Two ruthless slaps. Double bogey on the 15th and double bogey on the 16th and the advantage went up in smoke. He was no longer the sole leader. In a blink of an eye. That’s this course for you. He finished with par on the 17th hole and sealed a great birdie on the 18th, with another spectacular putt, like so many he has made in this round. A magnificent reaction after the two tumbles.
Precisely, that final birdie will allow him to start Sunday with a one-stroke lead over Richard Green (-7). It’s not what he was expecting after the 14th, but something is something. Surely the trip to the hotel, after the last birdie, was much more peaceful and happy. Two strokes behind Choi is the Indian Arjun Atwal (-6), the best by far at Carnoustie the last two days, with rounds of 66 and 67 strokes on Friday and Saturday. If he is able to do something similar tomorrow, he could perfectly well take the cat to the water. However, it seems almost impossible to do three consecutive rounds like this on the fierce Scottish course. If he does it and wins, he will have well deserved it.
Be that as it may, the big favourite is Choi, firstly because he starts as leader and secondly because he is the only one who has managed to sign three rounds under par. To date he has played twelve senior Majors and has added four top 10s. His best position has been a third in the Senior Players of 2023 and the Senior PGA of 2021, the first one he played.
Also, we will have to count tomorrow on all those who are under par right now: Paul Broadhurst (-4), Ángel Cabrera (-3), what a story it would be for the Argentine, Padraig Harrington (-2), Stephen Ames (-2), Steven Alker (-1) and Miguel Ángel Martín (-1). Yes, the Spaniard has managed to resist in the top 10 and has left an opportunity for tomorrow.
Playing from a bridge…🤨#SeniorOpen | @ROLEX pic.twitter.com/vn8gGCc3v5
— Legends Tour (@euLegendsTour) July 27, 2024
Martín had his round very much under control. He had made two birdies and no bogeys with five holes to go, but Carnoustie is always waiting for you. From there to the end he made three bogeys, including one on the 17th after hitting from a bridge. Be that as it may, he has a chance of victory and, above all, he could achieve his best result in a senior Major, recorded in 2017, with a sixth place precisely in the Senior Open.
