The Open Day 3 - What a day!!

Sports Writer, Derek Clements reports from St Andrews 

YOU couldn't make it up, and if you did, nobody would believe you.

Later today at St Andrews one of the following scenarios is likely to unfold - Louis Oosthuizen will win the 144th Open Champion and become only the third golfer to win successive titles at St Andrews; if he does so, he will join Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Jordan Spieth will raise the Claret Jug, winning his third successive major, leaving himself one tournament away from completing the Grand Slam in a single season -something that nobody has ever done. Jason Day will land his first major just weeks after collapsing at Chambers Bay in the US Open after suffering a vertigo attack.

Or a 22-year-old Irishman hardly anybody had heard of prior to the tournament will become the first amateur to win The Open since Bobby Jones almost 90 years ago. Paul Dunne shares the lead Oosthuizen and Day, with Spieth one shot adrift. Dunne has recorded rounds of 69, 69 and 66 and has looked like a seasoned professional as he has mastered the Old Course in a tournament which finishes on a Monday for only the second time in its history. And with tickets for the final day costing just £10, there is certain to be a vast crowd in the Auld Grey Toon, all curious to find out which of the above scenarios is going to play out today. Or perhaps they will see an entirely different outcome.

Dunne admitted that he had found it difficult over the opening few holes. He has only ever played in front of a few hundred spectators in his young life. Yet here he was being cheered on to every green, looking up and seeing his name at the top of the leaderboard. "In the end, I really enjoyed my day," he said. "The spectators were just fantastic and Louis [Oosthuizen] was terrific too, encouraging me all the way round."

Would he have slept last night? It is unlikely. He stands on the threshold of golfing history, after all. And no matter what happens today, his life has changed for ever - would you sleep in such circumstances?

On a day of benign weather conditions (finally), there were a host of low scores. Marc Leishman, of Australia, produced the best round of the day, a 64, and Padraig Harrington, the two-time champion, rolled back the years with a 64 - he goes into the final round just two off the lead. Sadly, the Scottish challenge faded, with Paul Lawrie producing a 75, and Marc Warren unable to join in the low scoring. The two Scots played together and with the vast crowds willing them on, neither could find the inspiration they required.

Dustin Johnson began the third round in front of the field but he had a miserable day, having to wait until the 15th for his first birdie - he followed it with three successive dropped shots and is seven under par, five behind the joint leaders.

Retief Goosen, who qualified for the Championship behind Dunne, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Zach Johnson, Leishman, Robert Streb, Adam Scott, Danny Willett and American amateur Jordan Niebrugge are all on nine under par. There are 26 players within five shots of the lead.

On days such as this are legends born and dreams made true. You really couldn't make it up.

Image credit - The Open Facebook