Herbert, Suber Lead 2026 Open Round 3 Pairings With 10:50 a.m. ET Final Tee Time

Q: Can LIV's surprise leader fend off a PGA Tour rookie and a chasing pack of superstars at Royal Birkdale?

Yes — Lucas Herbert can win from here, but he is far from safe at Royal Birkdale. Herbert, the LIV Golf player from Ripper GC, takes a two-shot lead into Saturday after a stunning 8-under 62 that tied the men’s major-championship scoring record. That round was no fluke: he has recent winning form, including LIV Golf Virginia in 2026, and his low, aggressive ball-striking looked well suited to Birkdale’s firm, fast setup. The immediate threat is Jackson Suber, the 26-year-old PGA Tour newcomer who sits second at 6-under and joins Herbert in the final pairing. Suber has already shown he can handle the stage, leading after Round 1 in his Open debut, but the weekend pressure of chasing a major against a proven closer is a different test. The bigger issue for Herbert may be the depth behind him. Sam Burns is only three back after his own 62. Bryson DeChambeau, despite a two-shot penalty, is also within striking distance and has said the ruling has “fired” him up. Cameron Young is right there as well, while Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood are only four behind — close enough on a links course where one windy stretch can flip the leaderboard quickly. Royal Birkdale rewards control and patience, and the redesigned course has already produced volatile scoring swings. Herbert has the lead and the form to hold it, but with Suber beside him and multiple elite players within four shots, this Open is still wide open.

Q: Will a controversial penalty fuel Bryson DeChambeau’s weekend charge or derail his Open Championship hopes?

It is more likely to fuel Bryson DeChambeau’s weekend charge than end it. The penalty was costly. The R&A added two shots under Rule 8.1 for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing on the fifth hole, changing his second-round score from 66 to 68. That dropped him from 7-under to 5-under, from solo second to tied fifth, and left him three shots behind Lucas Herbert instead of one. It also knocked him out of the final pairing, a meaningful competitive setback. But the damage is not fatal. At three back entering Saturday at Royal Birkdale, DeChambeau remains firmly in contention, especially on a links course where weather, bounces and momentum can quickly reshape the leaderboard. His opening 67 and his original second-round play showed he has the game to contend despite criticism of his aggressive strategy. The more important signal is his response. DeChambeau publicly said, “Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend.” That is a much stronger indicator than the initial frustration that followed the ruling. He is also scheduled to tee off at 10:30 a.m. ET, close enough to the leaders to apply pressure early. There is still risk. He has had a difficult 2026 major season, and emotional fallout from a disputed ruling can linger. But based on his position, form at Birkdale, and stated mindset, the penalty looks more like motivation than a knockout blow.

3 articles · Updated · GOLF.com · Jul 17

10:50 a.m. ET is Saturday’s final tee time at Royal Birkdale, with leader Lucas Herbert paired with Jackson Suber after the second round finished Friday evening.
Third-round pairings were set by leaderboard position, putting Bryson DeChambeau and Sam Burns at 10:30 a.m. ET and Scottie Scheffler with Francesco Molinari at 9:45 a.m. ET.
4:10 a.m. ET starts the day’s opening group—Jack McDonald and Russell Henley—creating a 40-pair schedule that runs from early morning through late afternoon in Southport, England.
NBC and USA will carry Saturday’s third round, with USA coverage beginning at 5 a.m. ET, NBC at 7 a.m. ET, and Peacock streaming featured groups and the network simulcast.