Shane Raleigh’s Struggles Continue at Portrush

Portrush, Northern Ireland – Shane Raleigh’s title defense at the British Open remains alive, at least until the final round on Sunday.

He ended the third round with a score of 74, but the real turning point came during the second round on Friday. Raleigh incurred a two-shot penalty when a TV replay showed that his practice swing unintentionally moved the ball.

This ruling, which Raleigh didn’t contest, adjusted his score from 2 under par to even par for the tournament.

Things went from bad to worse as he faced a triple bogey on the 14th hole and again on the 17th. Physically, he was not feeling great that day.

“I tried to refuel with protein drinks after eight holes, but honestly, I just wanted to throw them up,” he admitted. “I played badly today, but it was obviously a frustrating outcome.”

Raleigh found the penalty call “hard to take” and felt it overshadowed his week.

“You’ve got to go home and regroup,” he said. He mentioned his daughter Ivy had a tough time a few days prior, indicating they’re both going through a rough patch.

“I was really hoping to do well this week,” he added. “I put in a lot of effort. Unfortunately, I couldn’t enjoy the moment as much as I wanted during my home tournament.”

Raleigh hopes to make the most out of Sunday and aim for the best score possible, while also looking forward to taking some time off before the playoffs. His sights are set on the Ryder Cup, which he believes could lead to significant success.

John Rahm expressed sympathy for Raleigh’s situation, understanding the disappointment following the penalty ruling.

“I can relate because I was there,” Rahm commented. “It’s tough when you feel a call wasn’t fair, but the rules are the rules. It can be frustrating to play safe and end up with a two-shot penalty. If he had started 2 under today, who knows how well he might have played?”

Bryson DeChambeau made a cut with a 68 on Saturday, relying on the momentum from a strong second round, bringing him to 2 under for the week.

“I’ve been playing some great golf lately; everything feels solid,” he commented. “I’m just a bit frustrated that I didn’t capitalize more today, but that’s golf for you. I definitely should have played better during the first round.”

DeChambeau was put on the clock for slow play at the 17th hole, reigniting discussions about the pace of play in professional golf.

“The first two rounds were out of control in terms of pace,” he remarked. “People are just too cautious to call it out. It would be fairer for everyone if someone could just tell a slower player, ‘Hey, you’re past your time.’ That way, we’re all held accountable.”

John Parry recorded the first hole-in-one of the tournament on Saturday, sinking an eight-iron on the par 3 12th hole. He called it his tenth ace, but noted this one was undoubtedly the most special.

“To make a hole-in-one in this environment was incredible,” he shared.

Justin Leonard, a Claret Jug winner from 1997, played through the weekend rounds for the first time since 2014.

“There are definitely emotions involved,” the 53-year-old noted. “Just making the cut at this stage in my career feels remarkable. I played solidly today, and it’s nice to compete again.”

Lee Westwood also had a noteworthy round, shooting a 69, but it was far from typical. After a rough front nine with a 40, he rebounded with a stunning 29 on the back nine.

Despite having never won a major, Westwood holds an impressive history with 12 top-five finishes and 19 in the top ten across various championships.