Paul Dunne deals himself into title talk at the British Open

Amateur Paul Dunne suddenly became a worldwide name on Sunday when the Irishman took a share of the third-round lead on 12 under at the British Open.

Ireland's Paul Dunne is keeping up with a Jones, that being the late Bobby Jones, who was the last amateur to lead the British Open after 54 holes in 1927. Jones is also the last amateur the win the tShow more

St Andrews // Amateur Paul Dunne suddenly became a worldwide name on Sunday when the Irishman took a share of the third-round lead on 12 under at the Open Championship.

The stunning story unfolded on a day of third-round drama at St Andrews when in the middle of the world’s top golfers, the young man from Greystones, a coastal town south of Dublin, went into the lead at the most prestigious tournament in the world with his fifth birdie of the day at the 10th.

He was then joined by world-beater Jordan Spieth, who, at 21, is a year younger than Dunne, before finishing the day level with 2010 St Andrews champion Louis Oosthuizen and Australian Jason Day.

Spieth ended the day one stroke back heading into what will be an enthralling final round Monday.

“Yeah, it feels great. I felt like I had so much support from the crowd today,” Dunne said after his eventful day.

“I kind of felt like I was at home. Every shot I hit was getting cheered from start to finish, so big thanks to the crowd out there.

“They kept me lifted the whole way through. It was great to play with Louis Oosthuizen today. He’s obviously a great role model for me, great player, someone I look up to, so yeah, just really enjoyed it. It was such a fun day.”

The last time an amateur led the Open after 54 holes was Bobby Jones in 1927, who, in 1930, was also the last of only three amateur winners.

The fact that Dunne is even appearing at the 144th Open is a minor miracle as he only came through the final round of qualifying after turning up for his tee-time in Milton Keynes a minute before he would have been ­disqualified.

Padraig Harrington, who was the first European to win back-to-back Opens since 1906 when he triumphed in 2007 and 2008, made it a day to remember for Irish golfers with a sublime round of 65 that moved the 43-year-old Dubliner just two shots off the lead.

“It is fantastic to see an amateur at the top. Nice guy and lets hope he keeps going. If it is not me let’s hope it is him,” Harrington said.

Dunne returned the compliment saying Harrington had been an inspiration for him while growing up.

“He’s been probably the most influential person in Irish golf definitely in modern history anyway,” the 22-year-old amateur said. “I remember watching him win the Open at Carnoustie in 2007 and 2008 at Birkdale. I’ve watched those videos over and over again, so has everyone in my family, I think. I’ve always looked up to Padraig. He’s been such a great ambassador for Irish golf.”

Dunne is now certain to see his Wikipedia page that consists of just four facts, one of those being that he made the cut this weekend, significantly change.

“It’s surreal I’m leading the Open, but I can easily believe that I shot the three scores that I shot,” he said.

“It’s just lucky that it happens to be in the biggest event in the world. Hopefully I can do it again tomorrow, but whether I do or not ... I’ll survive either way.”

Spieth, meanwhile, fuelled his hopes of becoming just the second player, after Ben Hogan in 1953, to win the first three majors of the year when he fired a third round six-under 66.

Nine players were grouped on nine-under, just three shots off the lead, including Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Retief Goosen and Adam Scott.

Spieth said that he intended to take no prisoners on Monday.

“I mean, at this point it’s free rolling. I’m going to play to win and I’m not playing for a place. I don’t want to place third tomorrow. I want to win.”

It was a day of extravagant shot-making that saw a barrage of birdies assail the Old Course. At one stage 10 players were tied for the lead at 10 under, with nine others a shot further back.

Dunne briefly took up the pace 46 holes into the tournament and there were charges from players who many thought were well past their sell-by dates, such as Harrington and Goosen.

The scoring was phenomenal. It was as if all the pent-up frustrations stored from the weather-induced inactivity of Saturday was being unleashed by the 80 cut-making players onto the fabled Fife links.

Dustin Johnson, the leader after the first two rounds, opened the day with a one-shot lead, but, as he calmly parred his way down the front nine, he was quickly engulfed in a sea of red figures.

Spieth, the man he handed the US Open to at Chambers Bay by three-putting at the last led the charge and it seemed to unnerve the big American.

He reached the turn in one over 37 and was three behind playing partner Danny Willett who had been one back at the start of the day.

By the end of the round he had spiralled down the leader board – a victim of his own passivity as much as the shot-making brilliance of his rivals.

The second Monday finish to an Open Championship is set up to be one of the most exciting.

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