The Open: Rahm still believes he can launch comeback

Jon Rahm still believes he has a chance to win the Open Championship, though warned a famous comeback will be tougher to achieve than it was at the U.S. Open.

A third-round 68 from Rahm left him at seven under for the tournament, five shots behind leader Louis Oosthuizen going into the final day.

Rahm charged from behind to win his first major at the expense of Oosthuizen last month but the pre-tournament favourite knows he needs to produce something close to perfection to repeat the feat.

Collin Morikawa is one shot behind Oosthuizen, while Jordan Spieth is at nine under with Corey Conners and Scottie Scheffler, both in search of maiden majors, also sitting ahead of Rahm on eight under.

"I believe I can do it, yeah," said Rahm. "I've been playing really good golf. Believe it or not [on Friday] I shot 64 and I left a few out there. I played really good golf. 

"[On Saturday] I made a couple of mistakes off the fairway that cost me a few. Maybe a couple of shots where I got a little bit quick through the process and it cost me a shot.

"Missed both greens on my second shots at 1 and 13, two moments where if I could go back I could have given myself a better chance.

"So I'm going to have to eliminate those little mistakes on Sunday and hopefully start strong. If I can shoot under par in the first five holes that will be stealing a couple of strokes on the rest of the field. 

"So start that strong and play the rest of the course that way I have, I'll give myself a chance.

"Hopefully I'm not too far away. I know I did make a comeback at the U.S. Open, but I feel like three shots in the U.S. Open are not that much, right? Bogeys can happen and I showed that it can be made up. 

"Now on this golf course, if I'm that far away, I'm going to possibly need a little bit more wind than we had.

"If not, I'm going to need a really good round of golf, if [the weather] is like it has been I will need something close to record-breaking stuff. 

"I need something around 63, 64 to be able to give myself a chance because I'm guessing somebody else in front of me will come out to shoot possibly three, four, or five under and get far away."

Rahm was happier with his 68 once he saw many others had struggled to score low, citing how difficult the pin positions had been.

He added: "Really good round. Played good golf. 

"I had some really good highlights - because of the weather conditions it's easy to think it could have been a little bit better, but the pin locations were no joke. 

"I don't know if on TV you could appreciate it, but those are some of hardest pin locations collectively I've ever seen. 

"On a golf course that's not easiest it can get tricky. The scores show it, two under is a much better round than I thought it was for a while."