McIlroy, the four-time major champion from Northern Ireland, and Hovland, the rising star from Norway, carded matching rounds from 6-under 66, finishing 16-under 200 on Saturday. Hovland made the only bogey-free round of the day, while McIlroy captivated his supporters in the UK by hollowing out for the eagle from a pot bunker at No. 10.
Both men birdied at number 18 to wrap up their rounds and set up a Sunday showdown during the 150th round of The Open.
“That was pretty cool. I probably won’t forget that too soon,” Hovland said. “No, I played great, but it was also cool to trade some holes with Rory as well.”
Australian Cameron Smith led after two laps, but was unable to keep his putter warm on Saturday. He shot a 1-over 73 and joined playing partner Cameron Young (71) in a tie for third at 12 under.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (69) and South Korean Si Woo Kim (67) finished fifth at 11 under. Dustin Johnson settled for a 71 for seventh place at 10 under.
McIlroy hasn’t won a major since 2014. After finishing in the top-10 at the Masters, PGA Championship and US Open earlier this year, the 33-year-old is once again in a position to end his drought.
“The support I’ve received this week has been absolutely incredible,” said McIlroy. “I appreciate it and I feel it out there. But at the same time, I try my hardest to just stay in my own little world, because that’s the best way for me to get the best out of myself.”
Hovland (24) shone at Oklahoma State and has racked up five wins between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour since turning pro in 2019. His talent has not translated to the big stage this week; he has yet to get a top-10 finish at a major.
Norway has never had a major championship winner.
“Growing up in Norway, I always watched The Open Championship much longer than I ever did, the Masters for example,” Hovland said. “Yeah, to win a major closest to home, that would be really cool.”
Smith three-putted for bogey on the first hole and Hovland made four straight birdies at number 3-6 to overtake him. Hovland tied up Smith on the fourth hole when he made a tough 42-foot birdie putt, sweeping right to left over a hill. A 19-footer at number 6 gave the Norwegian a two-shot lead.
McIlroy birdied at numbers 5, 6 and 9 and tied within one shot from Hovland as the pair made the turn. McIlroy drove into a pot bunker on the short par-4 10th, but he lofted his second shot in line with the pin and it rolled in for eagle.
“That hole was kind of sitting there on a little crown, and I was just trying to get it a little close,” McIlroy said. “Anything within 10 feet I felt it would be a very good shot. It just came out perfect.
“You need a bit of luck every now and then, especially in these big tournaments. And that was a nice bonus.”
The shot threw McIlroy past Hovland to 15 under, but moments later Hovland birdied to tie the lead. McIlroy’s birdie with two putts on the 14th par-5 restored his lead.
At the difficult No. 17, the “Road Hole,” both players’ drives missed the fairway and their approaches sailed across the green. McIlroy settled for a bogey, as Hovland fired his third shot from a walkway to set up a 1.2m par to equalize.
Smith and Young each made a precious double bogey in the back nine, damaging their already fading chances. Smith’s came in at number 13, where he had to stand in a bunker to field his second shot from the rough. Instead of lying in the fairway, his knee-high swing sent the ball forward just 65 yards.
Young’s double bogey went down like a four-putt at number 16. His approach landed along the green, and his attempt to put it from there went past the hole and fell down the front slope of the green, setting the disastrous score.
Scheffler made five birdies to counter two bogeys. The Masters champion could become the third player in history to win at Augusta National and St Andrews in the same year, alongside Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood (66) and Matt Fitzpatrick (69) joined Australian Adam Scott (70) in a tie for eighth at 9 under. Jordan Spieth shot a 68 to go down to 8th and tied for 11th with Patrick Cantlay (71).
Ireland’s Shane Lowry holed up consecutive eagles on the par-4 ninth and tenth holes for an unlikely four-shot jump on the standings. The 2019 Open champion cooled off, shot a 69 and is part of a group at 7 under. Kevin Kisner is also 7 under after shooting a 65 for the low round of the day.
– Field-level media