Ludvig Åberg enters Sunday four shots back at Royal Birkdale, while Baard Skogen and Tim Wiedemeyer exit after strong Open Championship debuts in England.
Texas Tech golfers arrived at the 2026 Open Championship representing three different eras of Red Raiders.
Ludvig Åberg is now carrying the program’s hopes into Sunday with a Claret Jug still within reach.
Åberg delivered another composed performance Saturday at Royal Birkdale, carding a 3-under 67 to move to 6-under through 54 holes.
The former Texas Tech star is tied for sixth alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Jackson Suber, sitting four strokes behind tournament leader Sam Burns.
That’s hardly an impossible mountain to climb on a links course where one strange bounce, sudden gust or deep bunker can flip a leaderboard in minutes.
Åberg’s third round didn’t begin perfectly.
He bogeyed the opening hole but refused to let the early mistake hijack his afternoon. The 26-year-old responded with four birdies and avoided another dropped shot, once again showing the controlled aggression that has made him one of golf’s brightest young stars.
His three rounds of 71, 66 and 67 have placed him ahead of major champions Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa entering the final round.
Åberg’s position is even more remarkable considering his Open Championship week began with a travel mishap that left his driver broken.
He found a solution quickly and has looked increasingly comfortable navigating Royal Birkdale’s firm fairways, punishing rough and unpredictable greens.
The weekend wasn’t as long for former Red Raider Baard Skogen or current Texas Tech standout Tim Wiedemeyer, but both left England with memorable first appearances in golf’s oldest major.
Skogen opened with a 3-over 73 and followed it with a 71, finishing at 4-over and missing the cut by three strokes. His Friday improvement showed plenty of fight after a difficult opening round.
The Norwegian earned his Open invitation by dominating Final Qualifying at Royal Cinque Ports. Skogen shot 68 and 64, closing with eight birdies and zero bogeys to reach 12-under and punch his ticket to Royal Birkdale.
Wiedemeyer finished at 6-over after posting consecutive 73s. The Texas Tech senior entered the field as one of just 10 amateurs after winning the European Amateur Championship at 13-under.
His appearance also extended an impressive program streak. Texas Tech has now sent an amateur to three consecutive Open Championships, following Calum Scott in 2024 and Connor Graham in 2025.
Skogen and Wiedemeyer gained invaluable major championship experience. Åberg, meanwhile, has unfinished business.
Four shots separate him from Burns. On a Sunday at Royal Birkdale, that’s close enough to make the entire leaderboard nervous.
