Grace, Johnson shoot up Open leaderboard in chase of Spieth

South Africa's Branden Grace (centre) celebrates with his caddie Zack Rasego (left) after holing out on the 18th green after his third round 62 on day three of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north west England on July 22, 2017. Branden Grace made history on Saturday when he became the first player ever to shoot a round of 62 in a major in the third round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale. PHOTO | BEN STANSALL |

What you need to know:

  • World number one Dustin Johnson made excellent progress in the benign conditions that were in stark contrast to the wet and miserable weather of Friday afternoon.

SOUTHPORT

South Africa's Branden Grace moved firmly into contention at the British Open on Saturday with his record-breaking third round of 62.

Grace's round, the lowest in the history of the majors, saw him move from four over par overnight to four-under.

Meanwhile, world number one Dustin Johnson made excellent progress in the benign conditions that were in stark contrast to the wet and miserable weather of Friday afternoon.

The languid American shot a bogey-free round of 64, six-under, to climb to three under par overall for the tournament.

Jordan Spieth led at the halfway stage at six-under and he quickly improved to -7 for the championship with a birdie at the 3rd.

Spieth's playing partner, fellow American Matt Kuchar, had a more eventful start with two birdies and a bogey in his first four holes leaving him five-under.

US Open champion Brooks Koepka also went to five-under thanks to a run of three straight birdies from the 3rd.