Staff WriterDavid Law will take a slender one-shot lead into the final round of the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos, with the Scotsman now just 18 holes away from automatic promotion back to the DP World Tour.
Law’s third round was a tale of two halves—fireworks on the front nine and a steady-as-she-goes back nine. A four-under 67, built on five birdies and a single bogey, nudged him to 13 under for the week, just one clear of Spaniard Rocco Repetto Taylor and Austrian Lukas Nemecz.
The 34-year-old has already racked up wins this season at the D+D REAL Czech Challenge and the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge, and a third HotelPlanner Tour title would earn him an immediate return to golf’s top table. And make no mistake, Law knows exactly what’s at stake.
“It definitely helps experiencing being in contention,” he said. “Trying to win a golf tournament isn’t easy and you need to practice it. The week I won in Czech I was in contention in Austria and didn’t play very well on the Sunday which I learnt a lot from.
“Obviously I felt pressure out there today and I’ll feel pressure out there tomorrow which is great because I felt so flat all of last week.”
Law’s round started with a bang, holing a birdie putt on the opening hole before surrendering a shot on the treacherous par-four second. From there, the Scot caught fire—rolling in four birdies in five holes, including a surge from the fifth that lit up the front nine.
The back nine, however, was a different story: nine straight pars. Law wasn’t unhappy with it, though, and he left the course knowing his game is holding up under the microscope.
“I holed a nice putt on the first and finished the front nine with a few birdies so turn at four under was nice,” he said. “I would’ve liked to have picked up a couple coming in but I’m in a good spot and I played well, even though I would’ve liked to have made a few more putts.
“I’d like to play the par fives a little bit better. I haven’t really got my tee shots away and be able to go for them in two. I think that will be important tomorrow if I can do that.”
Behind Law, fellow Scot Jack McDonald sits in solo fourth at 11 under, while a logjam of talent—France’s Julien Sale, Italy’s Stefano Mazzoli, South Africa’s JC Ritchie, and the Netherlands’ Lars van Meijel—share fifth at 10 under. A shot further back at nine under lurk Sebastian Garcia and Quim Vidal of Spain, South Africa’s Jovan Rebula, and Law’s compatriot Daniel Young.
The Open de Portugal finale promises a Sunday brimming with tension, as Law chases the golden ticket back to the DP World Tour.
The final round begins at 8:00 am, with Law paired alongside Repetto Taylor and Nemecz in the final group, teeing off at 10:01 am.
