SOUTHPORT, England — The Open Championship reached its third round at Royal Birkdale on Friday, with world number one Scottie Scheffler among those in contention for the Claret Jug. The leaderboard tightened as players faced the links course over the weekend.

The 154th Open began on Thursday at Royal Birkdale, one of the R&A's most storied venues, having last hosted the championship in 2017 when Jordan Spieth prevailed. Scheffler, who has dominated the men's game for much of the season, arrived as the bookmakers' favourite and backed up that billing with a strong opening.

R&A officials confirmed the third-round tee times and pairings, with the leading groups sent out in the afternoon. Coastal winds off the Irish Sea remained the decisive factor, as they have historically at Birkdale, testing shot-making and course management across the exposed back nine.

A victory for Scheffler would add the Open to his growing collection of major titles and strengthen his hold at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking. Rivals including recent major contenders sought to close the gap before Sunday's final round, with the weekend expected to reshape the standings.

"Links golf demands patience, and you have to accept the bounces you get," Scheffler said after his earlier round at Royal Birkdale.