Brutal conditions at Royal Troon prompt bold claims from Scottie Scheffler and Shane Lowry – talkSPORT

Brutal conditions at Royal Troon during the third round of The Open made it a difficult day for some of the world’s best golfers.

Scottie Scheffler admitted it was the toughest back nine he’s ever played, while Shane Lowry lamented the layout and conditions.

Ireland’s Lowry entered the third round as the leader, with a two-shot lead over Justin Rose and qualifier Dan Brown after playing the first half of the championship at seven under par.

But Lowry had a difficult Saturday, with wind and rain causing problems for the final starters of the day.

Lowry particularly struggled to adjust, shooting a six-over-par 77 to put him one over par for the week and three behind leader Billy Horschel.

It was on the last nine holes that Lowry suffered particularly, as he was forced to hit driver-driver on the 15th hole, only to make bogey on the par four that measured more than 500 meters.

He didn’t have much luck on the 17th hole, with Lowry forced to hit his driver on the par three.

Lowry seemed unimpressed with the choice of tees in those conditions, saying: “Look, I don’t really know what to say. It was a real ordeal. It wasn’t much fun. Driver, driver to 15. 16 playing ridiculously long. Driver to 17.

“Then you’re on the 18th tee and you’re wondering if you can actually hit the fairway, if you can hit the fairway, and it’s 230 yards to the fairway.

“Keep in mind my driver hit about 220 yards on the 17th hole. So, yeah, it’s not a lot of fun out there. It’s obviously very difficult. But you have to wonder why there weren’t a couple of tees moved forward today, to be honest. I think 15 and 17 – like 15 is 500 yards playing into that wind.”

Keen to point out that the golf course’s signature hole is actually the shortest hole on the Open programme, on the iconic eighth, The Postage Stamp, a frustrated Lowry added: “They keep trying to make holes longer, but the best hole on this course is about 100 yards.”

Lowry’s hopes of winning a second Claret Jug in five years are not over, however, with the 37-year-old admitting he will need time to digest his third-round disappointment.

He said: “I still have a chance to win, but it’s difficult now.

“Like I just finished, and I really wanted to make that hole on the last one. I knew Billy had made a bogey, and I knew Dan (Brown) was obviously going to make a double.

“I mean, I would have been back two times. Back three times, you’re still in the tournament.

“It’s going to take me a few hours to recover today, and yeah. I’m obviously pretty good now, but I’ve got work to do tomorrow and a similar chance to win this tournament.”

Scheffler is currently the best player in the world, but even he had a few things to say.

“The last nine holes were probably the toughest nine holes I’ve ever played,” said Scottie Scheffler, who is eighth at 2 under par.

“I shouldn’t say never, but it’s definitely the toughest match I’ve played so far.”

Even two of the biggest hitters struggled with the weather.

Dustin Johnson, who was teamed with Brooks Koepka, said: “The toughest nine holes you can play.

“In the wind and rain it was so long I had trouble hitting the par fours, same for Brooks.”