Tyrrell Hatton equalled the course record on the Old Course at St Andrews by carding a 61 to take the lead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after the third round.

The Englishman’s 11-under-par round included one eagle and nine birdies as he moved to 22 under par in the DP World Tour Pro-Am event which uses three links courses.

“I was taking each hole as it came and just trying to make as many birdies as I could,” said Hatton, who is a two-time winner of the tournament.

“I really wanted to birdie the last and that’s actually my lowest round on tour as well.

“It felt like I was trying harder than I normally would over a putt on the last. I hit a good putt and, thankfully, it went in. It was a cool day.

“I wasn’t too worried about what anyone else was doing, I was just taking each hole as it came and ended up with a nice tally.”

He added: “I know I’m capable of winning round here. Ultimately, I’ll try my best and see how we go.”

Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who was the joint overnight leader along with Australian Cameron John, is on 21 under after a 65, which included an albatross on the par five 16th, on the Kingsbarns course.

John was left on 12 under after a 74 on the Carnoustie rotation.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy shot seven birdies on the front nine of St Andrews but three bogeys on the back nine resulted in a round of 68 as he ended the third round on 10 under.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood is on 16 under after a 67, while Spain’s Jon Rahm (65) is one shot further back on 15 under.