Ludvig Aberg overcame a pair of bogeys early on the back nine with three late birdies that carried him to a 5-under 65 Saturday at the Scottish Open, slightly dampening the enthusiasm of a gallery fully behind local star Robert MacIntyre.

“Not the most stress-free golf, but it was again a good score,” Aberg said. “I’m pleased with the way I hung in there and finished it out.”

The final round before most of the field heads to Royal Troon for the British Open was packed with possibilities, starting with MacIntyre.

Scotland’s best player, already with a PGA Tour victory this year in the Canadian Open, surged to a two-shot lead at one point and heard his name chanted along the way. He closed with a tough bogey and still shot 63, putting him in the final group with Aberg.

“I’ve not been shy in saying it: The Scottish Open is the one I want,” MacIntyre said. “It’s not going to change tomorrow. I’m in that position. I’ve been doing good things. I’ve been playing well, not just this week but for the previous eight weeks I feel like my game has been in good shape. Tomorrow, I’ve just got to control me.

“And if I do that well, then I’m going to be in with a chance.”

MacIntyre looked like a winner in the Scottish Open a year ago until Rory McIlroy birdied the last hole with a 2-iron from 201 yards into a harsh wind off the Firth of Forth to deny him.

Now he’s back, trying to block out the hype and the cheers, knowing what it would mean.

“All I can do is hit the golf ball as well as I can and accept the outcome,” MacIntyre said.

Tougher than the expectations is chasing down Aberg, the Swedish star with the flawless swing who was at his best in a light rain to at least give himself some separation.

Aberg was at 17-under 193 as he goes for his first victory of the year, and third in a career that began only 13 months ago after leaving Texas Tech as the top player in college golf.

Adam Scott played with MacIntyre and had a 64, leaving him three shots behind in pursuit of his first victory in more than four years. Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala each had a 66 and were four behind. Theegala bogeyed his last two holes after briefly sharing the lead.

McIlroy was still in the game, despite his putter going cold down the stretch for the third straight day. He had to settle for a 67. That left him five shots behind Aberg, a player he lobbied to have in the Ryder Cup last year.

Kyriacou leads by 1 at Evian Championship

Stephanie Kyriacou of Australia posted seven birdies in a 4-under 67 and will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Evian Championship.

Kyriacou was at 14 under overall after the third round on Saturday, just ahead of overnight clubhouse leader Ayaka Furue of Japan (70) and Lauren Coughlin of the United States (65), who were tied for second.

“I’m just trying to stay patient. The more you play this course, the more you figure out the tips and tricks,” Kyriacou said. “I don’t think I’ve been in contention in a major before, so it’s exciting.”

Furue carded two bogeys, ending an impressive streak of 46 holes without one.

Coughlin, who tied for third at the Chevron Championship for her best finish at a major, had a spectacular day at Evian Resort Golf Club, recording two eagles.

Stricker takes 1-shot lead at Firestone

Steve Stricker chipped in twice for birdie on the last five holes and shot a 3-under 67 on Saturday at Firestone to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Kaulig Companies Championship.

Winless this season, Stricker is trying to win the senior major championship for the third time in four years. He chipped in on the par-4 14th and 18th holes, the last getting him to 9-under 201 on the difficult South course.

“I didn’t play very well today, I scored well,” said Stricker, the 57-year-old Wisconsin player who won at Firestone in 2021 and 2023.

Hall of Famer Ernie Els and Robert Karlsson were tied for second. Els, a two-time winner this season, holed out from 132 yards from the rough for eagle on the par-4 17th in a 64. Karlsson shot 66.

Stricker has seven major titles and 17 overall victories on the 50-and-over tour. He had three bogeys in the round.

Lahiri sits atop LIV Golf Andalucia in Spain

Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri shot a 5-under 66 to take a four-shot lead of the LIV Golf Andalucia tournament on Saturday.

Lahiri added to his 69 from Friday to go 7 under overall after two rounds. He hit six birdies to overcome one bogey at the Real Club Valderrama course in southern Spain.

Danny Lee of New Zealand was his nearest chaser at 3 under, followed by Martin Kaymer, Tyrrell Hatton and Eugenio Chacarra at 2 under.

Dean Burmester led after round one, but his 4-over 75 for the day pushed him back to 1 under along with Lee Westwood and three other players.

Home favorite Jon Rahm was on par after going 2 under onSaturday in his first event in Spain since joining the LIV circuit.