It’s set up for an exciting final round at the US Open
Day three proved to be tougher for the players especially with the back nine playing extremely difficult. The USGA made a surprising decision as they made the par three 15th only 80 yards. Tom Kim showed that a good score was possible as he shot a incredible record front nine score of 29. Patrick Cantlay also had a superb front nine as he shot 30. It was unbelievable that Padraig Harrington continues to get better as he shot a third round of 67 which included an eagle.
It was a long night of watching golf as the leaders didn’t go out until 11:40pm Irish time. Xander Schauffele got off to a nightmare start as it took him three to get out of a fairway bunker at the first hole. Dustin Johnson had a cold putter as he played the first six holes in two over. Scottie Scheffler put a new driver in the bag for round three and it worked immediately as he hit an amazing drive on the first hole which resulted in a birdie. The nightmare start from Schauffele didn’t affect Rory McIlroy as he hit a 388 yard drive on the first and an impressive eight iron from 206 yards to set up an opening eagle putt. McIlroy got off to a dream start as he played the first three holes in two under.
McIlroy made a bad decision by hitting the wrong club on the par three fourth which resulted in a bogey. The sixth at Los Angeles is a 299 yard par four and McIlroy took the green on but ended up in a greenside bunker. McIlroy was frustrated that he didn’t achieve a birdie on the short par four sixth and not taken advantage of his length on the par five eight. McIlroy started the back nine with a fabulous up and down for par at the 10th hole. The 13th at Los Angeles is a difficult par four but MCIlroy ended up with a bogey after a bad three putt. McIlroy was lucky that his ball bounced out of the rough on the par five 14th and managed a birdie after getting it up and down.
The final group was leader Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clarke. Fowler started with a birdie on the par five first then followed it up with two bogeys before having a quality birdie on the long par three seventh. Fowler failed to achieve a birdie on the par five eight and settled for a front nine of even par. Clarke took the lead early on after two birdies in the first three holes but settled for a impressive front nine of 33.
Clarke had two bogeys on the back nine at both the 12th and 17th hole. Clarke made two incredible birdies at both the extremely difficult 13th and 18th. Clarke’s birdie at the last meant that he would play in the final group on Sunday. Fowler also made a birdie on the difficult par four 13th and it looked like the American was going to finish his third round on 11 under until he had a three putt on the 18th.
A few over par rounds from the chasing pack which included a four over from Min Woo Lee and a three over from Schauffele. Kim let a few shots go on the back nine but signed for a great third round of 66. Bryson DeChambeau brought himself back into the mix after shooting a third round of two under. Elsewhere Cameron Smith finished on three under, Hideki Matsuyama & Viktor Hovland a further shot back on two under and Patrick Cantlay finished on one under. The players that are on two or three under need a low final round and hope the leaders drop a few shots.
Fowler and Clarke are tied for the lead on 10 under and will play again together in the final round. McIlroy is one behind and is in a great position on nine under. McIlroy will play with Scheffler which will be a fantastic group to watch. Scheffler starts the final round on seven under after holing his second shot for eagle on the 17th and a birdie on the 18th to finish his third round in style. Harris English, Johnson and Schauffele are the next best on the leaderboard all on five under.
Fowler’s comeback story is inspiring but I would love McIlroy to win the Us Open as he hasn’t won a major in nine years. Looking forward to watching the final round and I hope you enjoy it.