2011 British Open Leaderboard: Dissecting Day 3

Saturday was "moving day" at the 2011 British Open Championship, and it looked like two completely different rounds of golf.

Those players who teed off in the morning were greeted by extremely harsh weather conditions—a steady, soaking rain with winds gusting to 30 miles per hour. It was classic British Open fare, but certainly not conducive to good scoring.

Simply put, it was survival-of-the-fittest golf.

Those at the top of the leaderboard who began play in the afternoon, however, were greeted by more favorable conditions. Rain jackets were removed as much of their third round was spent under merely overcast skies with glimpses of sunshine.

Sure, there was still a stiff breeze blowing around Royal St. George's, but it was a stark contrast to the morning's deluge.

Second-round co-leader Darren Clarke took an outright advantage toward ownership of the Claret Jug by shooting a one-under-par 69.

Tee to green, it was an outstanding performance for Clarke. In fact, had he made the handful of "makeable" birdie efforts he faced on this day, his one shot lead would be even greater.

"If somebody had given me 69 before I was going out to play, I would have bitten their hand off for it," Clarke mused in his post-round presser.

Joining Clarke in Sunday's final pairing will be Dustin Johnson, who returns to the major championship spotlight he struggled in at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship last year.

Johnson managed a tie for low round of the day with a two-under-par 68, putting himself just one shot behind Clarke.

"I need to keep doing what I'm doing," Johnson said in his post-round presser. "And just stay focused one shot at a time and see what—just take what the golf course gives me."

As was the case yesterday, an impressive group of players are still in the hunt for this championship.

Rickie Fowler and Thomas Bjorn are both just two shots back.

Fowler's third-round score of 68 was the low score of the day—tied with Johnson—and especially superb considering he was completely water logged from start to finish. In speaking with the media afterward, he described the dismal weather as "probably the worst conditions I've played in."

Bjorn actually dropped a shot to par with a 71, but kept the leaders within sight on a difficult day.

Miguel Angel Jimenez and second-round co-leader Lucas Glover are four shots behind Clarke at one-under-par. Jimenez shot a two-over-par 72 while Glover struggled with his putting in a disappointing three-over-par 73 performance.

Six golfers finished the day at even par to keep themselves in contention.

Among this group are four-time major champion Phil Mickelson; the world's No. 3 player and reigning PGA champion, Martin Kaymer; Anthony Kim; and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III.

Reigning U.S. Open champion—and British Open favorite—Rory McIlroy struggled with a four-over-par 74, likely putting himself out of contention, nine shots behind Clarke.