LEADER BOARD
American Bryson DeChambeau is in excellent position to add a second United States Open golf title to his record.
After shooting a 67 on Saturday in the third round at Pinehurst No. 2, DeChambeau finds himself at 7 under overall, and he is 18 holes away from winning. He gave himself a priority of three shots over a trio of pursuers at the dawn of the final round.
In 2020, the colossus from California won his first major title on the fairways of another very difficult course, that of Winged Foot.
The one who left for the LIV circuit two years ago will be paired with Frenchman Matthieu Pavon in the last duo on Sunday.
Pavon, like Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and American Patrick Cantlay, is at minus-4.
He can even dream of a success which would make him the second Frenchman, among men, to win a major, more than 100 years after Arnaud Massy’s triumph during the 1907 British Open.
Pavon, aged 31, won the Torrey Pines tournament in January then placed 12th in the prestigious Masters in April, two unprecedented results for a French golfer.
At the top of the rankings, DeChambeau had a superb day with six birdies, but tarnished by a double bogey at the 16th hole which prevented him from completely taking off.
“Unbelievable, I have achieved many very good putts. I’m trying to play boring golf. The middle of the greens is stable, so I aim there to ensure the shot in two putts,” he explained.
McIlroy benefited from a 10-foot putt on the 12th hole, for one of his four birdies. Cantlay hit the target from 20 feet, in the 17th.
At 208 are Hideki Matsuyama (70) and Ludvig Aberg (73).
Morikawa shares ninth place and par 210 with Tom Kim and Corey Conners of Canada, who scored a 71.
Aberg started the round one step ahead at the top of the table. However, he was the victim of a triple bogey on the 13th hole.
Morikawa shares ninth place and par 210 with Tom Kim and Corey Conners of Canada, who scored a 71.
Ontario’s Conners made an eagle, but he also made a double bogey.
Morikawa needs the type of magic that Arnold Palmer generated when he won this Omnium for the first time.
In 1960, Palmer was seven shots behind Mike Souchak after 54 holes.
