ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Apparently Mother Nature decided to apologize for Saturday by dropping the wind, only spewing rain for 40 minutes, and giving the best in the world a chance to show their stuff on the Old Course. Some shined, others just couldn't take advantage of the conditions, and there were a few surprises both good and bad. And by the way, how about eight of the top nine in the Official World Golf Rankings making it to the final two rounds? Enjoy.
Rory McIlroy
Grade: N/A
World ranking: No. 1
Score: N/A
You injured your ankle playing soccer with friends and are missing The Open. Hopefully we'll see you at the PGA Championship.
Grade: B+
World ranking: No. 2
Score: 67-72-66 (-11)
I can't give you an A because there were so many bogey-free rounds on the course, and yours was not one of them. Plus, you hit the fewest number of greens in the three rounds you've played, but that's also why you still get a high mark. As usual, you've found a way to put yourself in contention to win.
Grade: F
World ranking: No. 3
Score: 71-76 (+3) Missed cut
Of all the top players in the world, at the most historic course for The Open, you're not here. I know Mother Nature threw her best at you, but as the No. 3 golfer in the world, I want you to be able to punch back. And you get a low mark because you wouldn't have shared any of those 25 blueberry muffins you ate Saturday with me!
Grade: F
World ranking: No. 4
Score: 65-69-75 (-7)
You followed your first birdie of the day on the 15th with three straight bogeys. In doing so, you shot the second-worst round of the day when only 11 of the 80 golfers in the field shot over par. I guess the good news is there will be no heartbreak on Monday afternoon at this major for you.
Grade: A-
World ranking: No. 5
Score: 70-71-66 (-7)
While you may not be able to win this major, with a good final round, you may have played yourself into the top five. One missed fairway and one missed green lets me know you weren't doing it with smoke and mirrors. The minus is for the 17th hole, which with no wind should not have been as intimidating for you.
Grade: A
World ranking: No. 6
Score: 73-71-66 (-6)
You proved why you're No. 6 in the world. Even with your lack of length off the tee, which some would call a handicap, you did exactly what a top-ranked player at any age or driving distance should do in perfect conditions: play solid golf. A bogey-free 66 took you from the cut line to T-26, and if conditions are good for the final round, who knows?
Grade: D
World ranking: No. 7
Score: 73-70-71 (-2)
Being under par for the third round at The Open may have sounded good if the conditions were similar to the ones we saw on Saturday, but shooting only 1 under, even though you had to play in the rain for 40 minutes, is not acceptable. Your goal for the final round should be to hit 14 fairways and 16 greens with 28 putts. Beat all your best stats for the week.
Grade: C+
World ranking: No. 8
Score: 71-68-68 (-9)
An average round turned into a good one with no bogeys on your scorecard. You moved from 14th to ninth going into the final day, so that's also a positive. The disappointment was the 3-putt bogey on the eighth hole and missing three greens. Improve there and you're looking at an A-plus finish.
Grade: A
World ranking: No. 9
Score: 66-71-67 (-12)
You did exactly what you should do in a major in the third round -- put yourself in a position to win. You hit more fairways than you have all week (12) and should improve on that Monday. If that happens, and you have fewer than 30 putts, there's a good chance your name will be on the Claret Jug.
Grade: B-
World ranking: No. 10
Score: 70-69-68 (-9)
You get the letter grade for only missing one green all day. You get the minus for 3-putting the fourth green for your only bogey of the day. I know putting sometimes isn't your thing, but I want you to find a way to have one round with fewer than 30 putts. You have a chance for redemption if you can go low Monday.
Paul Dunne (amateur)
Grade: A+
World ranking: N/A
Score: 69-69-66 (-12)
Holy Cinderella, Batman! Here's a fun stat: You have only two bogeys in 54 holes, and neither of them were on the 17th hole or in the third round! If there was going to be one guy to stop Jordan Spieth's chase for the Grand Slam at the Old Course, it would be an amateur, right? Don't think for one second the spirit of Bobby Jones won't be walking the fairways with you on Monday.
Grade: A
World ranking: No. 61
Score: 70-73-64 (-9)
It's called "Moving Day" and you made the biggest move of all. You also played in bad weather for nearly an hour, yet still remained bogey-free. It wasn't perfect by any means (only 14 of 18 greens) but when you needed the putter to bail you out, it did (25 putts). The question now is, after being close to touching history, can you follow it up?
Grade: F
World ranking: No. 64
Score: 68-70-73 (-5)
Two bogeys and only one birdie? Are you serious right now, Mr. Former World No. 1? With 16 of 18 greens in regulation with 35 putts, here's what you do: Don't eat whatever you ate or whatever wine you drank again from Wednesday night on ever again. The crazy thing is the forecast for Monday won't be perfect, which apparently is what you need to play well here. Who knew?