The Open 2025 live: Leaderboard and golf scores as Scottie Scheffler takes control after front nine on final day as Rory McIlroy chases

Xander Schauffele is making a good defence of his title but it’s a little too late.

He’s up to -10 thru 12 holes and is playing well. Another few birdies and he could put some pressure on Scheffler.

Wyndham Clark is also making a late charge and has four holes left to improve on his -10 score.

Scheffler, 1/100 with the bookmakers after that bounce back birdie, has struck a beautiful iron from 147 yards to nine feet.

It’s been a seamless transition back to the plan and executing smart plays, which has contributed to a rather quiet corner of the course with Scheffler’s rivals dropping like flies.

The last Open champion to make double bogey in their final round was Padraig Harrington in 2007.

Both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have made a double today.

Does that mean one of the chasers are more likely to win?

A nightmare for Rory McIlroy’s chances. He was already on the brink trying to chase down Scheffler but a double bogey on the 10th has dropped him back to -8.

That’s eight shots behind the leader and, probably, the end of McIlroy’s chase.

Scheffler is too consistent to give up that many shots.

A super end to the front nine for Scottie Scheffler who brushes off that double bogey with a birdie on nine.

Haotong Li has had a great week and is still in with a chance after a birdie on the same hole.

He’s now up to -11 and just five shots back. There are chances to score big on the back nine but Scheffler will need to drop more shots.

A 98-yard wedge into the ninth green means that Scottie Scheffler can bounce back immediately with a birdie.

He leaves himself a putt of about six feet to extend his lead once more.

A couple of holes ahead, Xander Schauffele leaves a birdie putt short of the hole and misses the chance to get to -10.

A stunner on eight. One mistake has cost Scheffler two shots. A hushed silence after he missed the bogey putt, murmurings of hope, a lead whittled away and now just four to Gotterup and McIlroy now just five back.

A strange moment given it was really just the first bunker shot that Scheffler got badly wrong. He reset and played a mature third but the bogey putt just slipped by.

Scheffler was unflappable between green and tee box though and his drive on nine, after a rather lengthy pose, reminiscent of his warmup on the range several hours ago, stops in the first cut to present a chance to settle and bounce back immediately.

Over on the ninth hole Chris Gotterup rolls a putt in for birdie to take himself to 11 under for the tournament.

At the same time, Scheffler has a nightmare on the eighth and makes a double bogey.

That’s a three stroke swing and Scheffler’s lead is cut to just four now.

There’s an opening there for the chasers.

The chasing pack is lining up behind Scottie Scheffler with Matt Fitzpatrick the latest to reach 10 under par after a birdie on eight.

Rory McIlroy makes par there and remains seven behind.

Can one or both of them put on a run to challenge?

There’s a bit of belief for the chasing pack as Scottie Scheffler isn’t playing well.

Well, that’s not exactly true but mistakes and errors are creeping into his game as his lead is more than comfortable.

On seven, two poor shots leave him at risk but another stellar putt secures a par.

But, on the eighth tee he finds the bunker with his drive and is out of position again.

This tournament may not be over yet if his form continues to dip.