By Newspot Nigeria Sports Desk
Évian-les-Bains, France & North Berwick, Scotland —It’s not often that two former tennis players steal the spotlight at a major golf championship—but at the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship, that’s exactly what’s happening.
Gabriela Ruffels of Australia and Cara Gainer of England, both once rising stars on the tennis courts, now sit tied atop the LPGA leaderboard at -11 after three electric rounds at the Evian Resort Golf Club. Ruffels, just days removed from soaking in Wimbledon as a guest of Aussie legend Todd Woodbridge, rode her calm into a composed 66 (-5). Gainer, 29, delivered the round of the day with a blazing 64 (-7).
But while Ruffels and Gainer rewrite their career stories, China’s Yan Liu wrote an entirely different headline—becoming the second player of the season to fall victim to the LPGA’s slow-play crackdown. Her two-stroke penalty in Round 2 knocked her out of contention, and ultimately, out of the cutline by three strokes.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, the men’s game is putting on its own masterpiece.
🌍 PGA TOUR | Genesis Scottish Open — Round 3 Leaders
🏌️♂️ Rory McIlroy (NIR) and Chris Gotterup (USA) are tied at the top of the Genesis Scottish Open at -11, after sensational rounds that have thrilled the gallery at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick.
🥇 Co-Leaders:
- Rory McIlroy – 68 | 65 | 66 = -11 (199)
- Chris Gotterup – 68 | 61 | (R3 in progress) = -11 through 15 holes
McIlroy carded a silky 66 (-4) today, closing with back-to-back pars and showcasing the kind of championship control fans have come to expect. Gotterup, playing with fearlessness, matched the score overall and looks primed for his biggest Sunday yet.
🥈 Close Contenders:
- Marco Penge (ENG): -10 through 16 holes
- Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG): -10 through 16 holes
- Wyndham Clark (USA): -9 (66 | 69 | 66) – Finished
- Jake Knapp (USA): -9 (64 | 69 | 68) – Finished
Notable Movers:
- Tom Kim (KOR): -7 (T7) with rounds of 66, 70, 67
- Scottie Scheffler (USA): T15 at -6, quietly in striking distance
- Xander Schauffele (USA): -5 after a +1 round today
- Justin Thomas (USA): E for the tournament, fading out of contention
🏌️♀️ LPGA | Amundi Evian Championship — Round 3 Leaders
Gabriela Ruffels and Cara Gainer are holding off a stacked leaderboard filled with major winners and rising stars.
🥇 Co-Leaders:
- Gabriela Ruffels (AUS): 66 | 70 | 66 = -11
- Cara Gainer (ENG): 69 | 69 | 64 = -11
🥈 Chasing Pack (Just 1 Shot Behind at -10):
- Minjee Lee (AUS) – 67 | 70 | 66
- Atthaya Thitikul (THA) – 68 | 68 | 67
- Grace Kim (AUS) – 69 | 68 | 66
- Somi Lee (KOR) – 67 | 69 | 67
Notables:
- Yuna Yoshida (JPN): T7 at -9 with a brilliant third-round 64
- Rose Zhang (USA): -8 and very much in the hunt
- Nelly Korda (USA): T44 at -1 after a disappointing +4 (75) in Round 3
🔎 In Summary:
- In France, Ruffels and Gainer are chasing their first LPGA titles at a major — while the ghost of the stopwatch haunts others like Liu.
- In Scotland, McIlroy is hunting another title, but must fend off Gotterup, Fitzpatrick, and a surging field.
Two continents. Two storms brewing. And one weekend that could redefine careers.
📡 Keep it locked on Newspot Nigeria for final-round fireworks from both sides of the Atlantic. History is just a putt—or a penalty—away. ⛳🔥
