The Bandit widens chasm as Open nears its close

The gap at the summit is no longer a margin. It is a separation. The bandit produced a second 12-under round of this Open, a flawless 24 that extended their tournament lead to an almost unthinkable 14 shots. Every number on their card underlined a player operating in different air, untouched by the pressures that rattled others down the board.

Three rounds remain in the Open. The chase group, now headed by Miko after a climb to second on the strength of their own clean 10-under 26, is fighting for relevance rather than control. Barnyard and Dave Chops matched that score on the day but still shipped two strokes to the top. The bandit’s cushion is the story, and it is growing.