In a thrilling turn of events at the British Open, Xander Schauffele is dominating the competition and inching closer to securing an impressive victory. Schauffele's scintillating performance on the final round has propelled him to a three-stroke lead, putting him on the verge of claiming his second major championship of the season.

The American golfer showcased his exceptional form by notching an impressive six birdies and avoiding any bogeys in his final round. With an exceptional display of skill, Schauffele has firmly positioned himself as the front-runner to win the British Open, adding to his earlier triumph at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.

As the clock struck 12:37 p.m. ET, Xander Schauffele surged to the top of the leaderboard, seizing the outright lead for the first time in the 2024 Open Championship. Hitting a remarkable 138-yard approach shot on hole No. 13, he dialed in with precision, landing his ball within 16 feet of the hole before confidently sinking the birdie putt. A brilliant tee shot on the par-3 14th followed suit, as Schauffele secured his fifth birdie of the round, extending his lead to two shots over Thriston Lawrence at 8-under for the tournament.

Schauffele's ascent was aided by Lawrence's misfortune on the 12th hole, where the South African missed the green to the right, ending up against some television cables. Despite pitching to within 14 feet, Lawrence couldn't salvage par, allowing Schauffele to widen the gap. The leaderboard now sees Schauffele leading Lawrence by two shots and Justin Rose by three.

The spectators were treated to a remarkable recovery from Schauffele on the challenging par-4 11th hole. Despite the tough conditions, Schauffele displayed his prowess by executing an exquisite shot from the left rough. From a distance of 172 yards, he impressively rolled his second shot within three feet of the hole, converting a birdie that brought him within one stroke of the lead.

Meanwhile, Thriston Lawrence made his move and held the lead on the front nine, capitalizing on a stellar approach shot on No. 9 to register his fourth birdie of the day. The South African golfer continued his outstanding play from the previous day, carding a 32 on the outward nine, comfortably sitting at 7-under for the tournament with a one-shot advantage over Justin Rose.

The iconic "Postage Stamp" par-3 No. 8 at Royal Troon added to the drama of the final round. While both Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele found themselves within birdie range, only Rose was able to convert his 14-footer, moving him to 6-under for the tournament. Schauffele narrowly missed his 12 ½-footer, leaving him at 5-under. In the final group, Thriston Lawrence flirted with trouble but managed to place his tee shot within 13 feet of the hole. Meanwhile, Billy Horschel faced challenges, finding a bunker with his tee shot. Though Horschel recovered brilliantly, he surprisingly missed his par putt. Lawrence missed his birdie attempt, resulting in a tie with Rose as they moved on to the ninth hole.

Shane Lowry, who led the tournament earlier, bounced back with an impressive run of birdies, including a notable 56-foot bomb on No. 5. With solid play, Lowry returned to contention at 4-under for the tournament, trailing the leaders by just one stroke.

Justin Rose once again rose to the occasion with a birdie on the 608-yard par-5 second hole, propelling him to a one-shot lead over the field. However, Billy Horschel quickly responded with a sensational 23-foot birdie putt of his own, regaining the top spot at 5-under. Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, also made his presence felt by birdying No. 3 to join the six-way tie for third place at 3-under.

As the leaders prepared to tee-off in the final round of the 152nd Open Championship at Troon, excitement and anticipation filled the air. With Xander Schauffele leading the pack and close competition from Thriston Lawrence, Justin Rose, and a talented field of contenders, the stage is set for a thrilling and intense finale to the prestigious golf tournament.