Casey Jarvis holed out for eagle on his first hole and used the brilliant start to post a seven-under 65 on the Old Course on Saturday, giving him a two-shot lead in the Dunhill Links Championship as he goes for his third DP World Tour title of the year. South Africa's Jarvis played bogey-free on a breezy day at the home of golf, and didn't make a birdie putt longer than six feet in keeping his distance against the field. Jarvis was at 18 under going into the final round.
Adrian Meronk of Poland, one of 22 players from LIV Golf in the field, birdied his opening four holes at Kingsbarns and had an eagle late in his round of 63. He was two shots behind with Matthew Jordan of England, who shot a 66. Thomas Detry of Belgium, another LIV player, was a further shot back after a 65 at St Andrews.
Jarvis began his round on the 10th hole, and watched his wedge land about six feet beyond the hole and spin back into the cup. He followed that with a tee shot over the Strath bunker to four feet on the par-three 11th. When he two-putted for birdie on the 14th, he already was five under through five holes.
"I know I'm going to be feeling pressure tomorrow," said Jarvis, who won the Kenya Open and South African Open in consecutive weeks in February. "I have won twice this year so I kind of know how to deal with it a little better. I still know I'm going to feel first tee nerves and pressure throughout the day." Matt Fitzpatrick, coming off a victory last week in France, also got off to a great start with six birdies in his opening seven holes.
He was even par the rest of the way - two birdies to go with two bogeys - for a 66 and wound up six shots behind, along with defending champion Robert MacIntyre. Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka shot 70 on the Old Course and was eight back. "Every golfer dreams of taking a lead, playing the Old Course on Sunday," Jarvis said.
"I got goosebumps right now just standing here. I just can't wait for tomorrow. Even if I don't win, to be taking the lead, I'm just going to enjoy it as much as I can." Tyrrell Hatton and Cam Smith, who won the British Open at St Andrews in 2022, were among 14 players from LIV who missed the cut.
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