Noren leads by 2 shots after 3 rounds of Scottish Open

Germany’s Martin Kaymer tees off on the 6th, during day three of the 2016 AAM Scottish Open golf tournament at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness, Scotland, Saturday July 9, 2016.

The 33-year-old had three birdies in his last four holes in the second round, and was similarly impressive in the closing stages on Saturday. “The last nine was very tough. So that’s what I’m trying to do, to win”.

Italy’s Matteo Manassero was the youngest victor in European Tour history when he claimed the Castello Masters in 2010 aged 17 years and 188 days and added further titles in each of the next three seasons. It’s already obvious that his current world ranking of 596 is completely misleading but tomorrow we’ll find out if the four-time European Tour champion is ready to win again after a dip that no-one could have imagined when he became a top 25 player after capturing the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2013.

“I playing really well but then I am scrambling well and making some good escapes and that has been the key for these three days”.

“I’m very happy”, Noren told the European Tour’s official website.

Just six shots separate the top-15 players in what is the final event before next week’s British Open, with Hatton also ending strongly to make up some ground on the overnight leader. Hatton, Manassero, Walters and Romain Wattel would now qualify.

Henrik Stenson, victor of the 2016 BMW International Open, shot a six-under 66, moving 33 spots up the leaderboard.

Justin Walters, among the earlier starters when the sun was out and the wind wasn’t so strong, shot 65 to tie for the lowest round of the day and share fourth place with Danny Lee (70).

At 10-under, he and Hatton are tied for second and two strokes back of Noren.

206 – Tyrrell Hatton 70, 70, 66; Matteo Manassero (ITA) 71, 67, 68.