Eight players enter final round of US Open under par including -4 Rory McIlroy as Father’s Day could end his 10 year major drought
Rory McIlroy -3 started his third round at 8:13PM Irish time and had -3 Tony Finau for company. The Northern Irishman held an excellent par putt at one before making his first birdie of Saturday two holes later to reach -4. McIlroy failed to achieve a birdie at the reachable par five fifth hole and followed up this error with a lack of concentration at six resulting in a disappointing three putt bogey. The seventh hole was important for McIlroy and he managed to steady himself with a par to remain -3. The 167 yard ninth hole was proving to be difficult on day three but not for McIlroy as he hit a sensational tee shot and held a short-range birdie putt to return -4. Four-time major champion hit an extraordinary 352 yard drive at par five 10th hole but was unsuccessful in getting up and down from greenside bunker for birdie.
McIlroy has been hitting a low shot off 12 this week and did it again on Saturday to reached -5 due to an incredible short iron from 185 yards. “I think I'm embracing the questions that the golf course asks of you”, said McIlroy. Short par four 13th was creating drama especially with his playing partner Finau racking up a triple bogey but McIlroy managed to escape with a par. McIlroy’s three-quarter wedge swing was on display yet again at 14 especially with hitting a remarkable second from 113 yards and rolled in the birdie putt to reach -6.
An extremely poor bunker shot at 15 and short siding himself at 17 resulted in two frustrating bogeys for McIlroy. “I love the test that Pinehurst is presenting and it's great to be in the mix”, said McIlroy. Bryson DeChambeau -4 showed an exhibition of short game to shoot a -1 front nine. DeChambeau’s back nine of -2 included four birdies and a double bogey at 16 to shoot 67. DeChambeau leader -7 is three shots ahead of McIlroy -4 heading into Sunday’s final round at Pinehurst. “So familiar position, been here many times before, and hopefully tomorrow I produce the golf that's needed to go one better”, said McIlroy.
It won’t be a two-horse race between McIlroy & DeChambeau as both 2021 FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay & 2024 Farmers Insurance Open winner Matthieu Pavon are well placed on -4. 36 hole leader Ludvig Aberg suffered similar faith to Finau with a triple bogey at 13 and will start Sunday five shots behind DeChambeau. Aberg -2 is joined on the same score with 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama. Finau & tyrrell Hatton both -1 and a sensational Saturday 66 by Collin Morikawa to move from tied 51st to ninth. Shane Lowry +5 and both Tom McKibbin & Scottie Scheffler are a further shot back on +6.