Fitzpatrick shares lead at fog-hit Scottish Open; McIlroy struggles

Fog wreaked havoc at the Genesis Scottish Open, causing play to be suspended twice and leaving 22 players unable to complete their third rounds. Despite the disruptions, Matt Fitzpatrick emerged to share the lead, carding an excellent start with four birdies in his first seven holes before a bogey on the eighth. He finished his day tied overnight on 11 under par with Michael Thorbjornsen.

American Johnny Keefer set the clubhouse target at 10 under after firing a third-round 64. Defending champion Chris Gotterup, US Open winner Wyndham Clark, and England's Jordan Smith were among those still on 10 under, with Scotland's Bob MacIntyre one shot further back. Play was scheduled to resume early Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy experienced a starkly contrasting fortune. Having shared the lead after the opening two rounds, his form deserted him on Saturday. Three bogeys in his completed eight holes left him on six under par, trailing Fitzpatrick by five shots. McIlroy's struggles included a three-putt bogey on the third and a missed opportunity on the par-five seventh, a hole he had birdied in the previous rounds.

Keefer, who is in contention for his first PGA Tour win, expressed a "go with the flow" attitude, embracing the creative and flexible nature of links golf. He acknowledged that "anything can change" in such conditions, highlighting his adaptable mindset for the remainder of the tournament.

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Just the theme of links golf is being creative and being flexible, and understanding that things that are usually going to happen sometimes don't. And whether that's a good shot or whether that's just the weather, I think I had the mindset this week that anything can change.