Shane Lowry watches Open dream slip away

Billy Horschel in the lead at Royal Troon after inclement weather

Shane Lowry of Ireland surrendered his lead at The Open in Troon, Scotland. Getty Images

Shane Lowry is struggling to come to terms with his third round struggles as his hopes of winning The Open suffered a big blow at Royal Troon.

The Irishman began the day with a two-stroke lead but ended three shots behind new pacesetter Billy Horschel after a disappointing six-over-par 77.

Lowry is still in contention to claim the Claret Jug for a second time but his frustration after a round which began to unravel after a double bogey on the short par-three eighth was evident.

Lowry said: "Three back, you're still right in the tournament but this is going to take me a couple of hours to get over.

"It's just hard because I felt like I played unbelievable golf. I missed the first fairway but then didn't miss another fairway until 16.

"I hit some great iron shots but just didn't hole the putts early on when I had the chances, and then I missed a few par putts.

"Obviously it was hard. I don't really know what to say. It was a grind."

Lowry dropped five shots on the back nine, including a bogey on the last after hitting a shot into the stand, while he also lost his temper on the 11th after his ball struck a media commentator.

The Open brought a final two hours of the worst weather to the world's best players, but Horschel was up for the fight.

Horschel flipped his cap around to keep rain from dripping off the bill. He played in short sleeves in a biting chill to swing more freely. He embraced everything about Royal Troon on a day the course gave most players a royal beating.

He survived with a marvelous short game from pot bunkers and the rough, and he managed a 2-under 69 that gave him a one-shot lead going into a final round and his best shot at winning his first major.

“I’m excited to be here. I’ve wanted to be here my entire life,” he said. “I’m finally here.”

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 former world No1 Dustin Johnson. He shot 72 and was five behind.

Later, Lowry questioned the course set-up that made it a nightmare in the rain.

He said: "It's not much fun out there. Honestly, it was brutal. You'd have to question why there wasn't a couple of tees put forward, to be honest.

"I think 15 and 17; 15 is 500 yards playing into that wind. They keep trying to make holes longer, yet the best hole in this course is about 100 yards."