A three-shot lead on a devilishly hard course can be seen two ways. (i) It’s hard to make up a lot of shots in terms of the catching pack making a bunch of birdies, and (ii) on such a tricky track shots can be lost so easily that three shots is nothing.
So it depends on whether you’re a glass-half full or a glass-half empty person regards Rory McIlroy’s chances of chasing down Bryson DeChambeau’s lead heading into this evening’s final round at Pinehurst, a course, one suspects, a lot of these golfers won’t be in a rush to head back to (at least not when it’s set up as it has been this week).
McIlroy said coming into this US Open that he feels he’s never been close to breaking that 10-year major drought. And his first three rounds in North Carolina have illustrated that that belief was far from misplaced. He’s played brilliantly, his lag putting and short game have been as good as anything and he’s within striking distance of the American.
But DeChambeau has been just a level above the rest of the field these past three days and one suspects it will be more a case of him tripping up than a surge from behind if the ‘Mad Scientist’ isn’t to win his second US Open and major.
Whatever happens McIlroy is out to enjoy the pressure and fun.
”I’m embracing the questions that the golf course asks of you,” McIlroy said. “It tests your chipping. It tests your putting. It obviously tests your mental fortitude more than any other golf tournament.
”It’s a style of golf I’ve started to try and embrace over these past few years.
”I’m pretty much in the same position that I was last year going into the final day and hopefully I produce the golf that’s needed to go one better,” he added, referring to his US Open runner-up finish in 2023.
Stay here to find out whether the Northern Irishman can break the 10-year duck and for all the action from Pinehurst No 2.
