With 18-holes to play on a bad weather-threatened final day, Shane Lowry leads on 16 under par, four shots clear of Tommy Fleetwood. One other man in the 73-strong field, J.B. Holmes – the guy who takes an hour-and-a-half to watch “60 Minutes” – is within six of Lowry, although the ever-ominous figure of Brooks Koepka is one of those seven back.

Where to begin on a day when Fleetwood strolled around the famous Dunluce links in a bogey-free 66, five-under par, and lost ground to the only man above him on the leaderboard? Lowry, a wide smile only rarely missing from his cherubic face, shot an amazing 63 that included eight of the 19 birdies the likeable Irishman has made so far.

It’s safe to say he enjoyed himself. The crowd, one naturally and predominantly favouring himself, certainly did.

After a bogey-free 66 in the third round Tommy Fleetwood is four back of Shane Lowry. PHOTO: tuart Franklin/Getty Images.

“That's the most incredible day I've ever had on the golf course,” said a breathless Lowry, his now-famous smile still on display. “I honestly can't explain what it was like. I said to my caddie, Bo, walking off the 17th tee, ‘we might never have a day like this on the golf course again, so let's enjoy this next half hour.’ And that's what I did. The crowd was incredible. I just can't believe what it was like.”

Amidst the bonhomie though, the subject of Oakmont 2016 was inevitably raised. With one round to play in the U.S. Open that year, Lowry led by – you guessed it – four shots and went on to lose by three to Dustin Johnson.

“I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont,” he said. “I'm going to learn a lot about myself tomorrow, which is going to be a huge day in my career. But I don't think it means as much to me as it did then, which is going to make it a little bit easier. I learned a few things that day about playing in the final round of a major with a lead. You need to just hang in until the very last minute. You never know what can happen. And I'm going to do the same tomorrow.

“Besides, that’s a long time ago. I feel like I'm a different person. I don't think I'm a much different golfer, but I feel like I'm a different person. I think that's what will help me in the final round.”

Fleetwood was making similarly positive noises. Which was equally understandable. En route to his 66, the 28-year old Englishman underlined yet again his crisp ball-striking credentials. Few in the game – if any – are superior tee-to-green.

RIGHT: Queenslander Cameron Smith sits 10 shots back with 18 holes remaining att Royal Portrush. Francois Nel/Getty Images

“It was a very special occasion and a great day to be playing,” he said. “I’m happy to be in the mix. I’m happy to be a part of it. And happy to play my part in the atmosphere today. I did a lot of things well. Aside from hitting golf shots, everything that I set out to do before today I felt like I was really good at. I played great. I felt really comfortable in my swing and I was able to hit the shots I wanted to.”

There was also, however, a realism regarding his chances of becoming the first Englishman in 27 years – since Nick Faldo at Muirfield in 1992 – to win the Open Championship.

“Shane has an amazing short game,” he said. “And I've always loved his swing. I appreciate the flow he has throughout his game. Over the last three or four holes there it was a strange feeling though. I've gone bogey-free and played really well. So it would have been easy to get frustrated because Shane was doing so well.

“But I have to look at it all realistically. I had a great day. I had one of the best rounds of the day and I was bogey-free. Shane just played great and I'm four back. That's it. I’m just happy with how I played.”

LEADERBOARD

As for the lone Australian left extant by the cut that fell at one-over par on Friday evening, Cam Smith got himself round in 71 to sit T-12 after an up-and-down round that could and should have been better. Right after getting himself to eight under par for the week with an eagle-birdie burst at the 12th and 13th, the Queenslander gave two of those shots back with an unfortunate double-bogey at the par-4 14th.

“I felt as though I struck it the best I’ve struck it all week,” said Smith. “I hit lots of good putts, some were short, some were over the edge. It was just one of those days. I just couldn’t get the pace of the greens today, it felt like everything from 15 to 20 feet I was leaving a foot or two short. I was hitting good, solid putts, they just weren’t getting there.

“As I was walking off the 12th tee my aim was just to get to eight under. And then it happened so quickly, it was almost like I had to readjust. On 14 I hit a pretty solid drive and then a shot into the green that really wasn’t that bad. I got a bit of a goofy lie and ended up making six. That’s just golf sometimes.”

All of which, with Lowry a distant figure and ten bodies between Smith and the leader, has put an end to the 24-year-old’s chances. Well, you might think that. But Smith does not. Not yet. With bad weather on the way for the final round, anything is possible.

“Conditions are going to be pretty bad tomorrow, so if I hit it like I have been and a few putts go in, I’ll be right up there,” he said. “I don’t feel as though I’ve left myself out of the tournament. I just feel as though today could’ve been better.”

One thing is for sure, tomorrow will have to be.