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Scottie Scheffler needs to pull a Johnny Miller if he’s to realistically challenge today. A fast start is essential; par at the 1st, the self-styled hardest opening hole on the US Open rota, and one that’s averaging 4.34 shots this week, isn’t the worst way to begin the gargantuan task in hand. He remains at +4.
The weather could play a part this afternoon. It’s sunny enough now, but there’s a possibility of thunderstorms quite soon, or possibly in a few hours, or both. Hard to forecast anything with supreme confidence, given that when the heavens opened during yesterday’s third round, the rain was coming down heavily on some holes while the sun still blazed on others. Not untypical Pennsylvania weather, the locals will tell you. Fingers crossed none of this comes to pass, but if it does, we could be heading towards a Monday finish. Let’s cross this bridge if and when it’s necessary.
Yesterday evening, Rory McIlroy got a few things off his chest. Having unburdened himself, he cut a cheerier figure this morning, telling one interviewer that a good score was possible around Oakmont today, and he expected to see a few 67s. Well, he might be in the process of carding one of those himself. Or even better. He’s on track at the moment, having just hit a hot streak after the turn, making birdies at 11, 13 and now 14. If he pars his way home, he’ll be signing for that 67 before departing the scene quicksmart for some well-earned peace and quiet. He’s finishing the week as he started it, playing well. Just a shame about the big bit in the middle. He’s currently +7.
Preamble
The good news for Sam Burns: he’s in fine form after last week’s near miss at the Canadian Open; his 65 on Friday is the best round of the week, proof positive that the five-time PGA Tour winner has the game to get the job done around Oakmont; he’s one of only two players (along with Ryan Fox) yet to three-putt on treacherous greens once described by a USGA bigwig as the “scariest in golf”.
The bad news for Sam Burns: only three players out of nine have converted a 54-hole lead at an Oakmont US Open into victory; one of the biggest final-round comebacks in US Open history occurred at Oakmont (Johnny Miller winning in 1973 from six back); someone’s won from seven behind going into the final round of a US Open before, Arnold Palmer in 1960, and if anyone in the field can go one better than Arnie, it’s surely Scottie Scheffler.
So history proves that nothing’s certain. And with the leaderboard packed tight, featuring plenty of big names waiting to pounce, pretty much anything could happen if the leading trio stumble. Most of it unlikely, admittedly, but all of it possible. Here’s what the top of the tree looked like after 54 holes …
-4: Sam Burns
-3: Adam Scott, JJ Spaun
-1: Viktor Hovland
E: Carlos Ortiz
+1: Tyrrell Hatton, Thriston Lawrence
+2: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
+3: Robert MacIntyre, Cameron Young
+4: Marc Leishman, Chris Gotterup, Scottie Scheffler, Nick Taylor, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Max Greyserman, Emiliano Grillo, Russell Henley, Victor Perez, Ben Griffin
… and here are the tee-times (all BST). It’s on!
12.52 Cam Davis (Aus)
13.03 Matthieu Pavon (Fra), Jordan Smith (Eng)
13.14 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Harris English (US)
13.25 Ryan McCormick (US), Taylor Pendrith (Can)
13.36 Johnny Keefer (US), Michael Kim (US)
13.47 James Nicholas (US), Brian Harman (US)
13.58 Philip Barbaree Jr (US), Im Sung-jae (Kor)
14.14 Niklas Norgaard (Den), Denny McCarthy (US)
14.25 Daniel Berger (US), Tony Finau (US)
14.36 Rory McIlroy (NI), Andrew Novak (US)
14.47 Adam Schenk (US), Mackenzie Hughes (Can)
14.58 Justin Hastings -a- (Aus), Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng)
15.09 Collin Morikawa (US), Rasmus Hojgaard (Den)
15.20 Ryan Fox (NZ), Corey Conners (Can)
15.36 Patrick Reed (US), Laurie Canter (Eng)
15.47Jon Rahm (Spa), Tom Kim (Kor)
15.58 Maverick McNealy (US), Xander Schauffele (US)
16.09 Kim Si-woo (Kor), Jhonattan Vegas (Col)
16.20 Aaron Rai (Eng), Trevor Cone (US)
16.31 Jordan Spieth (US), JT Poston (US)
16.42 Brooks Koepka (US), Thomas Detry (US)
16.58 Jason Day (US), Chris Kirk (US)
17.09 Keegan Bradley (US), Sam Stevens (US)
17.20 Matt Wallace (Eng), Ryan Gerard (US)
17.31 Ben Griffin (US), Victor Perez (Fra)
17.42 Russell Henley (US), Emiliano Grillo (Arg)
17.53 Max Greyserman (US), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (SA)
18.04 Nick Taylor (Can), Scottie Scheffler (US)
18.20 Chris Gotterup (US), Marc Leishman (Aus)
18.31 Cameron Young (US), Robert MacIntyre (Sco)
18.42 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (Den), Thriston Lawrence (SA)
18.53 Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Carlos Ortiz (Mex)
19.04 Viktor Hovland (Nor), JJ Spaun (US)
19.15 Adam Scott (Aus), Sam Burns (US)
English (US)