Coming just a day after he found himself on the verge of achieving history, Peter Uihlein once again impressed in Scotland. Yesterday, his eagle attempt on his closing hole at Kingsbarns narrowly missed, robbing him of the distinction of becoming the first player in the history of the European Tour to shoot a magical round of 59. However, he would find a closing eagle on the Old Course at St Andrews on Saturday. His pitch to the iconic 18th from 47 yards plunged straight into the hole for an eagle two to complete a third round of 65 and a 20-under total that provides him with a two shot lead with 18 holes remaining at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Uihlein started the week at Carnoustie, the most challenging of the three courses on the rotation, opening the tournament with a one-under round of 71. After an acceptable start, the 24-year-old American would make the most of the adventitious scoring conditions and play his next 36-holes in an incredible 19-under-par.
However, with conditions ideal for scoring on Scotland’s east coast this week, this stunning performance from Uihlein only keeps him two clear of the pack, with the promise of a thrilling shootout ahead at the Old Course on Sunday.
Ernie Els, David Howell, Joost Luiten, Martin Kaymer, Richard McEvoy and Shane Lowry are all tied for second at 18-under, with the Irishman Lowry having equalled the course record of 64 at Carnoustie, despite a closing bogey on the Angus links.
Englishman Paul Casey, who has enjoyed a resurgence this year, equalled the course record at St Andrews with a 62, but he is not in a realistic contending position at seven shots off the lead. However, these record equalling performances have typified the week thus far, with clam conditions leaving these iconic courses with little in the way of defence. Consequently, the cutline fell at an astonishingly low 9-under.
18 players are all within five shots of the lead, and, on Sunday, they will all be chasing Peter Uihlein on the ‘Old Lady’.
“It was not quite what I was trying to do but it worked out,” Uihlein said of the final shot on the 18th at the Old Course.
“I carried it a bit too far but got a bit lucky and it's pretty sweet, a cool finish and a great way to sign off.
”I felt I missed quite a few putts coming down the stretch so it makes up for it a little.”
Uihlein, who won the 2010 U.S. Amateur, took the unorthodox route of establishing his professional career in Europe. It’s certainly is a strategy that has paid off for the Oklahoma State alumnus. He claimed his maiden victory earlier this year in May at the Madeira Islands Open, and suffered the recent disappointment of losing a three shot lead to finish second at the ISPS Wales Open at Celtic Manor. However, both situations will have provided invaluable experience.
”I don't know if it gets easier but the more you do it the more comfortable you get," he added. "St Andrews is the Home of Golf and the greatest course in the world. Any time you can win at St Andrews would be special. It's every golfer's dream to win out here.”
Ernie Els has never tasted individual success at St Andrews, although he was part of a winning South African team twice in the old Dunhill Cup. Playing this week in the Pro-Am section with his beloved father Neels, success tomorrow would be particularly special to the four-time major champion, and his 64 at the Old Course today would suggest that he is more than capable of lifting this trophy tomorrow.
“I needed a change,” admitted the 43-year-old, who will be part of Nick Price’s International Team at the Presidents Cup next week in Ohio.
”I've been in a bit of a rut playing in the FedEx Cup in the States, playing week-to-week and kind of going brain dead. You don't know exactly what you're playing for.
”To come here and play with my dad, who turned 70 this year, at these beautiful links courses makes a change and that's what I needed. It would mean a great deal to win this event especially with our close connection with Johann Rupert and his family. I've come close quite a few times and I feel I need to get my name on that trophy.
”I'm in a great position but there are a lot of guys in there. It will be a great shootout tomorrow, depending on the weather. If it's like this, it will be amazing.”
Also hoping for an amazing Sunday is David Howell, who is seeking his first victory in seven years. It’s been a difficult period in the career of the likeable Englishman, but he has begun to show signs of his previous form, with a 63 on Saturday at St Andrews an indication that he is ready to win again.
”I'm in the mix again and that's all you can keep doing,” said Howell, who won at the expense of Tiger Woods in the HSBC Champions in 2006. “Tomorrow might be my day, it might not.
”But if I keep putting myself in with a chance to win I'm sure some silverware will come my way, and it will be a real thrill when it does.”
Having already experience the thrill of winning twice this season, including a fortnight ago in his homeland of Holland, Joost Luiten continues to impress. He played alongside Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley on Saturday, and the Irishman had some advice for the talented Dutchman.
“The Ryder Cup is on my mind and Paul said it might be better to focus on The European Tour to try to win a couple more times to qualify for The Ryder Cup,” said Luiten.
Shane Lowry, who stunningly equalled the course record at Carnoustie, was ironically playing alongside Australia’s Richard Green, who also shares that distinction with a 64 on the fearsome links.
“I didn't know what the record was but Richard told me in the scorers' hut afterwards,” Lowry said. “But any score under par at Carnoustie is usually good so I am delighted with eight under.
”I knew I needed a good score to have any chance and didn't think I was going to shoot 64. I didn't see the eagle (on the 17th) go in but my dad was watching and he let me know pretty quickly!”
Former world number one Martin Kaymer won the Dunhill in cold conditions three years ago, and the 2010 PGA Champion has enjoyed the company of his brother, Philip, who has their father caddying for him in the Pro-Am.
Kaymer shot 63 on the Old Course, and said: “You tell me if there's any better or different golf course you want to play under those conditions?
”Perfect weather, and I played with my brother and we made the cut for tomorrow, my dad is caddying; I don't know if it gets any better.
”You have a good day of playing and it's almost impossible not to enjoy it. It's a really nice day.
”A performance like yesterday and today is very nice and helps a lot in the confidence.”
Richard McEvoy came into this week ranked 171st in the Race to Dubai, with only the top 110 ensured of their playing cards for next season. Just two events remain after this week, but the Englishman is determined to focus on just trying to win this prestigious Championship, which would not only guarantee his future on the Tour, but also open many other doors.
“To be honest I'm thinking about winning at the moment,” he said. “I'm in a position to go out and try and give it a go and try and win - that's what I'll be doing tomorrow.
”That's all I've been thinking about all week really is trying to get out there and finish as high up as possible, but obviously after day one, it was a key to try and keep making birdies and try and be aggressive like I was the first day. It's paid off so far, so that's what I'll be doing again tomorrow.”
Those are the protagonists, and they will compete on canvas of the Old Course at St Andrews. As Martin Kaymer said, it doesn’t get any better than this.