Bryson D’Champeau, who has suddenly turned himself into a fan favorite, is in prime position to capture his second major championship on Sunday afternoon.
DeChambeau, after a dominant outing on Saturday in North Carolina at Pinehurst No. Enters the final round with a three-shot lead over the field at 2 over. He carded a 3-under 67 on Saturday and nearly matched the low round of the day to make a run at the US Open.
Although he started the final round with a clear advantage, it did not last long. Rory McIlroy – still searching for a major championship title after a nearly decade-long drought – closed the gap to just one stroke on the front nine, although a bogey at the par-5 fifth put him back two strokes again.
Matthieu Pavon and Patrick Cantlay, who were in the final group with DeChambeau, both left early. Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau and Ludvig Åberg were the only ones under par for the week as they all approached the turn.
The way Pinehurst has been playing so far, they still have to win against anyone.
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live20 updates
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Drama at 8 and 9 p.m
What a scene in 8 and 9:
At 9, Rory McIlroy had a birdie putt to get to 5 under. So is Patrick Cantley. Not far away, Bryson D’Champeau faced a slippery chip to avoid a bogey at 8. How did it play out?
McIlroy made his putt …
DeChambeau chipped brilliantly to save himself an 11-foot par. He drained it with an emphatic fist pump.
And Cantlay missed.
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DeChambeau holds the door open
Bryson DeChambeau had opportunities to put distance between himself and the field, but was unable to capitalize. While he was on a 341-yard run, the latest came on No. 7, which left him just 88 yards to pin. He hit a solid approach, slightly hot, leaving himself 14 feet for birdie. It could have been better, he knew that. Then he burned the edge on the birdie putt, settling for another par.
That might be enough in the end — he still has a two-stroke lead — but he certainly knows he can find trouble quickly, and it’s nice to have a cushion when/if it comes.
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Cantlay gets a stroke
If you’ve watched this tournament, you’d have thought Patrick Contley was out 15 times…but here he is in second after a birdie at the seventh. DeChambeau.
Contley’s entire tournament is what a US Open should be — grinding par, sprinkling in a birdie here and there and avoiding the crooked number.
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Practice it sometime, Ludwig
Golf is all about adaptation. You have to hit at different angles, under your feet, over your feet, sometimes you have to turn and punch with your left hand (if you’re right) and vice versa. And then this lie was confronted by Ludwig Aberg in No. 7 …
He went to the hole and now the river has returned.
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A place on the Olympic team in line
Four Americans are heading to Paris next month for the Olympics. Two of those players are locked in — Scotty Scheffler and Xander Schaeffel. Two more spots are up for grabs, and now they belong to Wyndham Clarke and Colin Morikawa. However, if Patrick Cantlay can make it into the top three today, he will clinch a spot.
Despite some struggles and missed birdie putts, Cantley continues to hang on. He is at -3 and currently in a tie for third.
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How does Pinehurst play?
Actually … a little easier than the first four days:
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While we wait…
… To cheer leaders up, here are some stories to read from Jay Busbee at Pinehurst:
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So, how is the lesson in the early stages?
Fifty-two players are on the course … 12 are even.
Where do birds come from? the par-5 fifth and the short par-4 third and 13th holes.
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Round 4’s five storylines
Round 4 is underway, although the leaders still have a few hours to go. To get you all ready, here are the top five storylines we’ll be looking at:
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Bryson DeChambeau is the people’s hero who emerges as the face of golf.
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Rory vs. Patrick. McIlroy and Cantlay haven’t been paired together since the Ryder Cup. How will these two get along today? It will be interesting.
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And speaking of Rory, is this the day he finally breaks his massive streak from 10 years ago? Or could it be Cantlay, the best player in the world who hasn’t had a major hit (now Xander Schauffele is off the roster)?
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Welcome to the show, Ludvig Aberg. Playing in his third major tournament, Åberg was already anointed as the next big thing. why no? He finished runner-up at the Masters in April and now has a legitimate shot at winning his 124th US Open.
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Will Pinehurst repent? The guess here is that the course will play the same as it has been all week – tough, but available in points. DeChambeau has to feel like he can do it even on par.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Enjoy the US Open Sunday.
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