Korean star’s hole in one a 100-year British Open first

When Si Woo Kim’s tee shot on the par-3 17th rolled into the cup, he made British Open history.
Never before had a player made an ace at that hole in a British Open. This is the 10th time Troon has hosted The Open, having first done so in 1923.
Kim made the ace in perfect links style – an iron shot that landed short of the green and rolled up and into the hole almost as if it was a putt.
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Kim will start the final round nine shots back.
Meanwhile, Adam Scott made the most of relatively mild early conditions to rocked into contention.
Si Woo Kim celebrates making a hole in one on the par-3 17th in the third round at the British Open. FOX Sports
Having battled the weather in his second round a day earlier, conditions were much calmer early on Saturday, and Scott made the most of it to card a sensational 5-under 66.
The Aussie started the day at 5-over for the tournament, some 12 shots back from the leaders. But as the afternoon got on and conditions deteriorated, the field came back to the Aussie and he climbed 44 spots up the leaderboard.
He will begin the final round only four shots off the lead, which will be a welcome relief for the 2013 Masters winner.
“I’m probably not going to be in the mix, let’s be honest,” Scott said after his round, before the leaders had teed off.
Adam Scott has fired himself into contention at the British Open. R&A via Getty Images
“I’m likely seven to nine shots behind, I would guess. If I am (in contention), then that’s a bonus, but I’m going to need wind and everything to be in my favour to kind of be in the mix.”
The relatively mild conditions on the Ayrshire coast allowed Scott to play aggressively. He made six birdies and only the one bogey.
“You can’t really complain about 66, but when you’re so far back, you kind of need every one possible,” he said.
“I think I got what I deserved out there. I played some fairly good golf and didn’t make too many errors.”
But while Scott soared, the weather wreaked havoc for those playing later in the third round, including Jason Day.
The only other Aussie remaining in the field, Day was even for the day at the turn, but the back nine bit hard. He made five bogeys and sits 4-over for the tournament in a tie for 33rd.
American Billy Horschel carded a 2-under 69 to carry a one-shot lead into the final round, and his best shot at winning his first major.
Shane Lowry went from a three-shot lead to ninth place. Thriston Lawrence of South Africa and Sam Burns started the day 10 shots behind. Now they are among those one back.
PGA champion Xander Schauffele did his scoring in the rain and battled in the wind and shot 69 to be among those one back. Justin Rose made 11 straight pars, and finished with one that prompted a big fist pump. He shot 73 and was one behind.
“I kind of felt like it was going to be the type of day where you could go out and post a score, and it turned into an absolute survival test out there,” Rose said.
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was two behind, one of only two players yet to post a round over par this week.
“That’s the hardest nine holes I think you could ever play in golf right now,” said Dustin Johnson, a former world No. 1 with two majors. He shot 72 and was five behind.
Jason Day struggled in nasty conditions in the third round. PA Images via Getty Images
There was rain at the start for the leading players, and then a tough wind into their faces on the brute of a back nine at Royal Troon.
Players couldn’t reach par 4s in two shots with a fairway metal. Some of them hit driver into the par-3 17th. Everyone was holding on by the seat of their pants. Scheffler, who missed his share of short putts, drilled a 3-wood into the 238-yard 17th to 2 feet for birdie, among the purest shots of the day.
“I probably don’t hit a 3-wood on a par-3 very often,” Scheffler said. “I probably don’t hit driver and a 3-wood really solid on a par 4 and don’t get there in two, either.”
American Billy Horschel will take a one-shot lead into the final round. PA Images via Getty Images
Horschel was up to the task, saving par on five straight holes on the back nine when he couldn’t reach the green, two of them from deep bunkers. He missed a chance at a sixth straight par save on the 18th and was at 4-under.
Lawrence teed off more than three hours before the final group, had six birdies in eight holes and posted a 65. He went from 10 shots behind to playing in the final group Sunday with Horschel, one shot behind.
Horschel has a 54-hole lead for the first time in a major. Only once before has he even dealt with the Sunday pressure of a major, in the 2013 US Open at Merion where he started two shots behind and tied for fourth.
The final round gets underway at 4.35pm AEST. Day will tee off at 8.05pm, and then Scott at 10.45pm. Lawrence and Horschel will begin their rounds at 11.25pm.