10:04 PM
This is impressive from Rory
He’s had nine pars and one birdie in his round so far. he’s doing what he has to do.
10:02 PM
Brilliant par save from Rory at the 10th
That was huge – in the rough off the tee he did well to muscle the ball to the edge of the green. He leaves himself a breaking 15-footer for par and nails it. He remains at four-under.
10:00 PM
He’s done it again!
That is DeChambeau has hit the ball into the crowd and NOT shouted ‘fore’. That’s is, to put it politely, very, very poor…
The tee shot was on the long par-three 11th. He will now have a tricky up and down for par and, if he has any manners, a few apologies to make as well.
09:55 PM
Brooks makes birdie at the 15th
He moves to four-under, one back of his rival DeChambeau.
DeChambeau then has a birdie chance at the 10th – his effort flirts with the hole but stays above ground.
Hughes and Oosthuizen then both birdie the ninth – another change at the top!
-5 DeChambeau,Oosthuizen
-4 Koepka, McIlroy, Morikawa, Rahm, Hughes
09:51 PM
Richard Bland had such a great first 45 holes
He was the oldest halfway leader at the US Open and until the back nine yesterday played so well. His game unravelled from then and he finished on eight-over. Not a great weekend but still a tournament to remember.
09:48 PM
I thought that was in
I am referring to Rory’s birdie putt at the ninth, it needed to turn at the last min but held its line. That’s a missed opportunity. He stays one back at four-under.
09:43 PM
Rory pitches beyond the pin at the ninth
He’s now got a tough downhill putt for his birdie at the par-five, a hole that is a rare birdie chance at Torrey Pines.
09:42 PM
Phil Mickelson praises Torrey Pines setup
By James Corrigan
It is fair to say that Phil Mickelson and the US Golf Association have not always seen eye-to-eye. The left-hander was so disgusted by the course set-up at Shinnecock Hills three years ago that the word from his camp suggested that he infamously hit his moving ball on a green as some sort of strange protest at the erratic unfairness of the severe test.
Yet as he left Torrey Pines after seeing yet another chance slip away of filling the great void in his creaking trophy cabinet, Mickelson was full of praise for the governing body. Granted, after his record-breaking victory at last month’s US PGA, the 51-year-old expected so much more in his hometown of San Diego than a placing outside the top 50, in the major in which he has come second on six occasions.
Yet in terms of the layout, Mickelson revealed it ticked every box. “Obviously, I’m disappointed I didn’t play better,” Mickelson said after a closing four-over 75 left him on 11 over. “ I’m very surprised that, in the 30 years that I’ve played the US Open, this is the best I’ve seen. I thought they did a remarkable job, and I’m really proud and happy that it’s here at Torrey. “The set-up is the best I’ve ever seen. It allows the players who are playing well to make up ground or separate themselves from the field. They just did such a great job here. I’m very impressed.”
09:37 PM
The Leaderboard
09:34 PM
Paul Casey’s race is run as well
He bogeyed the 11th and has just doubled bogeyed the 12th – from being the man charging from the field into contention to level-par in a matter of 20 minutes.
09:32 PM
Not mentioned DJ much
That’s because he’s having a round to forget. He’s just tripled bogeyed the 10th to fall back to three-over – horrendous approach that left him well left of the green in the thick rough the culprit…his race was all but over at the tee box but is definitely over now.
09:24 PM
Brooks is back in it…
…after birding the 13th. He’s back to three-under.
09:23 PM
Hughes birdies the seventh to get back to three-under
The Canadian is scrappy and hanging in there.
09:22 PM
Then there were just the Big Names
Henley drops a shot at eighth and is back to two-under.
The top five are now DeChambeau (-5), McIlroy (-4) , Oosthuizen (-4), Morikawa (-4) and Rahm -3) – impressive list.
09:18 PM
Rahm snap hooks at the ninth
Not now Jon! We’ll wait to find out where that has gone – it could have travelled out of bounds…
09:16 PM
So very close for the defending champion
09:15 PM
DeChambeau taps in for the easiest of birdies
He’s now the sole leader at five-under.
Rory immediately has a chance to join him with a birdie putt at the seventh – he misses on the lowside and stays at four-under where he is joined by Morikawa who has just birdied the par-five ninth.
09:12 PM
This probably won’t make sense but I’ll write it anyway…
There’s a lot of momentum out there at the moment.
DeChambeau is a minute or two from taking the sole lead, Rory is also looking good for a possible birdie at the seventh, Casey is having a great round. etc etc…
09:10 PM
SO SO SO CLOSE FOR A HOLE IN ONE FOR…
…Bryson DeChambeau at the eighth. He hit a pitching wedge from 175 yards and was one revolution of the ball away from getting to six-under. He’ll move to five-under and the sole lead when he gets to the green, however…
09:08 PM
So who’s your money on?
Don’t ask me for my opinion – I’ll list at least five names and probably still be wrong. BUT it’s not looking bad for Rory, he’s driving the ball well and hasn’t been out of position much off the tee today…(apols if that jinxes him…)
09:06 PM
The top four
09:05 PM
Brooks bogeys the 12th
He falls back to two-under BUT still well in this. His putting has let him down this week.
09:01 PM
I reckon there is a huge potential of a play-off happening
Chances of both best buddies (sarcasm alert…) Koepka and DeChambeau being part of one it it does materialise?!
09:00 PM
Everyone is now at four-under
Well, not everyone…BUT if you’re at that number then you are a co-leader!
Well done if your name is Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Louis Oosthuizen, and Russell Henley (who has just dropped a shot at the sixth) you are top of the leaderboard.
There are as many as six one shot back on three-under. Casey, Koepka, Morikawa, Wolff, Rahm, and Hughes….
This is a classic.
08:52 PM
What a shot from Morikawa at the eighth
He’s the best iron player in the work and he has a tap in at the par three to get to four-under – a number that is a bit congested at the moment, only the five guys on that number at the moment.
08:49 PM
The Leaderboard
08:47 PM
Paul Casey is on the green in two at…
…the par-five ninth.
He misses his eagle chance but has a tap in for birdie. He’s now at three-under and within two of the lead.
08:44 PM
Some great golf is currently being played at the moment
It’s hard to keep up.
In short a lot of good players are making this course look easier than they should do.
08:42 PM
Louis Oosthuizen drops a shot at the fourth
He’s back in the group on four-under now leaving Henley the sole leader.
As I type Rory has a long putt for birdie at the fifth to go to five-under, it shaves the holes – great putt, so close. He’s still on four-under.
08:39 PM
Bryson’s birdie
08:37 PM
DeChambeau now has just two people in front of him
He was four-over during his first round but has battled back and a birdie (his first of the day) at the fifth gets him to four-under, just one shot back of the leaders.
08:33 PM
Rory’s birdie
08:33 PM
JT’s race is run
At snap hook off the tee at teh 10th was his undoing. He departs the green with a double bogey and he is now back to level-par.
08:32 PM
Paul Casey
Is two-under through eight and two-under for the tournament. That’s back-to-back birdies and he is in the mix.
08:31 PM
Top of the leaderboard
-5 Henley (4), Oosthuizen (3)
-4 McIlroy (4) Hughes (3)
-3 Koepka (9) Morikawa (5) Rahm (5) DeChambeau (4)
08:28 PM
Just what Rory needed!
Having missed a good chance for birdie on two he makes a breaking left-right putt at the fourth. It was never going anywhere else. He moves to four-under.
This is getting exciting.
08:24 PM
Back-to-back birdies for Brooks
He’s birdied the ninth and is well in the mix at three-under. He’s three-under for the round, Rory and Co watch out.
08:21 PM
Henley is back to being co-leader
He birdies the third to get back to five-under.
Rory got a par and stays on three-under
08:20 PM
Shane Lowry does something his fellow pros rarely, if ever, do
The Open champion has just walked off the 18th with a double bogey and smiled about it – what a guy, relaxed and doesn’t take himself too seriously. Fellow golfers take note – yes, Bryson, I am looking at you. The Irishman ends at 13-over and his focus will now turn to defending the Claret Jug at Royal St George’s next month.
08:15 PM
Rahm’s fast start
08:15 PM
Highly rated Italian…
…Guido Migliozzi has birdied the 12th to move to two-under. He’s three-under for his round and bogey-free.
08:13 PM
There are currently
Seven major champions in the top 10.
08:12 PM
Rory finds the dance floor at the tricky third
As Henley puts his tee shot at the par-three to within three feet – a great chance to get back the dropped shot at the first.
08:09 PM
Brooks gets a birdie
At the bar-three eighth. It was a brilliant tee shot and the American had a tap in to get to two-under.
Meanwhile, Rahm drops a shot at the fourth – not part of the script – he’s back to three-under.
08:09 PM
Hughes follows Henley in…
…dropping a shot at the first. He is back to four-under. So the two unheralded co-leaders have both suffered early hiccups. Can they bounce back while Rahm and Co. fire in birdies early on?
08:03 PM
DJ birdies the fourth to get to…
…two-under. The Big Names are making their moves. This is already looking like it’s going to be a fascinating next four hours (or more if there’s a play-off)
08:01 PM
The Leaderboard
07:59 PM
Henley drops a shot at the third
He’s back to four-under. Rory makes par and stays at three-under.
Great par-save from Rahm at the third. That was an amazing up and down and it’s par saves like that that will be as important and birdies today. He is one four-under.
07:57 PM
Co-leaders get their final rounds under way
Oosthuizen and Hughes both find the fairway.
07:56 PM
Fine putt from Rory
Rory’s approach at the first is just short of the green. But his putt is struck to within three-feet and he should make par at the first. Meanwhile, Henley is in the greenside bunker and has a 30-footer for par after chipping out.
07:52 PM
The third has been devilish all week
It’s casued Koepka, DeChambeau and other problems and not it can claim Rahm as its latest victim. The Spaniard, off the back of the opening two birdies goes left of the par-three’s green and the ball goes down towards the ravine. By the looks of it he’ll do very well to save par. He gets the ball and chips – having been shortsided – to within six-feet. World class.
07:49 PM
Rahm is at four-under…
…with a birdie at the second. Wow, what a start and just what he would have been dreaming of last night – back-to-back birdies. It’s the first time he’s opened the final round of a major with two birdies. Did someone say he was the pre-tournament favourite?
07:46 PM
Rory is off
And has found the righthand bunker, Not ideal but by no means a disaster. Co-leader, and Rory’s playing partner, Russell Henley is in the rough just short of the same bunker
07:44 PM
Ian Poulter birdies the fifth
He’s now at one-under as is his playing partner Francesco Molinari. The Big Names are gathering under par now.
Rahm chips to three-feet on the second and has a GREAT CHANCE (it’s so good it deserves a caps lock) to to to four-under.
07:41 PM
Morikawa birdies the second and is now on…
…two-under, He was expected to do well this week, hasn’t really got going but he’s now part of the conversation (not a fan of that phrase…but I used i anyway…)
07:37 PM
Great start from Rahm
The Spaniard – remember he won at Torrey Pines in 2017 – has birdied the first. He’s now at three-under alongside Rory and DeChambeau.
07:36 PM
Mr Marmite Bryson DeChambeau has teed off
The big-hitter was mightily impressive yesterday – no bogeys in his 68 – and will more than fancy his chance. His drive finds the lefthand bunker. Scottie Scheffler, on two-under, is his playing partner and his drive is left into the rough.
07:33 PM
JT is so near to three birdies on the bounce
His third putt at the sixth is just shy. But he’ll stay on two-under and be more than happy with his lot so far.
07:30 PM
JT makes a move
07:27 PM
DJ and Morikawa open with pars
Johnson left himself a tricky putt for par but manages to sink it to stay at one-under.
07:26 PM
Rahm and Wolff get their final rounds under way
Big day for both and their drives are sent safely down the fairway. Wolff was runner-up last year and likes US Opens and knows how to find birdies around Torrey Pines and Rahm is the ‘major winner in waiting’ as a fair few golfers who never won a major (Monty being the obvious won) have been in the past. The Spaniard, you suspect, will get his hand on one of the big four titles…
07:22 PM
Koepka cannot afford any mistakes…
…if he is to make a challenge today. He has a tough six-foot putt to make par at the fourth. He shows nerves to send the ball into the back of the hole and stays at one-under.
Meanwhile, Justin Thomas gets back-to-back birdies with a fine putt from downtown on the fifth. The Players champion is now at two-under.
07:20 PM
The world of the strange
07:15 PM
DJ and Collin Morikawa are off
Both are on one-under; both their drives whistle down the first; both guys have a chance if they can get off to a good start; both haven’t really got going this week; but both are very much in the mix. Tantalising.
07:10 PM
Justin Thomas
Adds his name to the growing list of Big Names (the cap B and N are deliberate by the way…) putting their hands up for possible coming from deep. The American birdies the fourth to go to one-under. Anyone within four shots stand a chance, albeit slim, of winning this.
07:06 PM
Ian Poulter is walking off the second green with a…
…birdie! The Englishman hasn’t featured really over the first few days but he’s now at one-under. If he gets the bit between his teeth then he could make a charge and set a clubhouse target.
07:05 PM
Brooks leaves his tee shot at the third….
…short and right. But his putt nearly goes in, That would have been a shot gained, He stays at one-under and (not wanting to tempt fate) looking in the mood.
06:54 PM
Brooks Koepka has looked as though…
…he was going to make a charge during each round so far. But he hasn’t got going and came into the final round at level-par. He’s just made a birdie at the second to move to one-under, with a sniff of a fifth major will he find his A-game today?
06:43 PM
Lee Westwood is out on the course
And has gone backwards – he bogeyed the second and is now two-over. He’s now far too back to make a charge. I reckon the winner will come from the golfers on one-under or better. There’s too much talent at the top of the leaderboard for someone further back to charge through the field to win the title.
06:41 PM
Kaymer misses the birdie chance at the third
He stays at one-over, the same score as his playing partner Jordan Spieth.
06:36 PM
Martin Kaymer plays a lovely shot into…
…the green at the par-three third. It’s the signature hole – looking out onto the Pacific Ocean – and Kaymer has a short putt to get to level-par.
US Masters champions Hideki Matsuyama his done for the tournament. He’s ended with a three-under 68 to finish on three-over. He never got going after an opening 69.
06:31 PM
Justin Thomas is yet to get going
But the American is still within striking distance – he’s parred the first and is at level-par.
06:21 PM
Jordan Spieth and Martin Kaymer are playing together
They both parred the first and are on one-over – both, you suspect, are too far back to mount an unexpected challenge.
06:18 PM
A lack of experience isn’t the reason ‘Phil’ hasn’t won his national championship
06:16 PM
The Leaderboard
06:09 PM
Phil Mickelson’s latest attempt to complete the grand slam is over
The 51-year-old shot a a four-over 75 today to finish on 11-over. He never really got going at Torrey Pines BUT with his five-year exemption into the majors – thanks to his US PGA win – he’ll still have opportunities to win that elusive US Open.
06:06 PM
They are talking about what the winning score will be…
…on Sky Sports. They being Sarah Stirk and Paul McGinley. The former Ryder Cup captain thinks six or seven-under will be the mark to hit and he strongly fancies Jon Rahm.
The Spainiard hasn’t really caught fire so far but at two-under he’s right in the mix.
05:48 PM
Bland’s bad run continues
The Englishman bogeys the first thanks to a three-putt. He falls back to two-over.
His playing partner is Guido Migliozzi – the man he beat in the British Masters play-off to win his first title at the 478th attempt.
05:41 PM
Talking about Louis
05:40 PM
It’s Father’s Day so we have had a lot of sickly sweet social media posts
I am sure Louis Oosthuizen would still love to lift the US Open trophy today…
05:36 PM
Richard Bland had a day to forget…
….yesterday. He went out in one-over (no harm done there) but came back in five-over, with three bogeys on the bounce from the 16th. He was the oldest man to lead the US Open at the 36-hole mark and into dreamland, but as the round went on it became a nightmare.
The Englishman has just got his final round under way, can he play with freedom today and get back into red figures and a possible top-10 finish? Let’s hope so.
His first tee shot safely finds the fairway – a fine start.
05:30 PM
How to become a good golfer
Some of you may think it’s down to perfecting a smooth, rhythmical swing. Others think it’s played in the head – get your mental approach sorted and you can tee it up with the best.
However, it’s clear, according to Rory McIlroy and Russell Henley, it’s all to do with eating the same meal over and over…
05:22 PM
There are many ways to play this game
05:09 PM
Phil Mickelson came into the tournament…
…on a high having won the US PGA Championship aged 50, becoming the oldest major winner in the process. The US Open is the only major he is yet to win but his hopes of a Grand Slam disappeared over the first three days. He’s currently on eight-over but still showing some short-game magic.
05:04 PM
For Fore’s sake…
You don’t have to be called Brooks Koepka to work out that Bryson DeChambeau is a bit of a marmite figure. And during his impressive bogey-free round of 67 yesterday he came in for more flak for not yelling ‘fore’ when on the fourth his tee shot went over the ropes and into the crowd. He is by no means the only golfer to not bother alerting the fans to a missile heading their way but some decorum today wouldn’t be remiss…
Here’s our very own James Corrigan’s view on golfers not yelling ‘fore’
READ: It can only be arrogance stopping pros shouting ‘Fore!’ – this dangerous attitude must be stopped
04:45 PM
Tee times to watch out for
6:43 Lee Westwood, Brian Harman
7:05 Martin Kaymer, Jordan Spieth
7:16 Harris English, Justin Thomas
7:27 Brooks Koepka, Sungjae Im
7:38 Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter
7:49 Paul Casey, Kevin Streelman
8:00 Xander Schauffele, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
8:11 Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson
8:22 Matthew Wolff, Jon Rahm
8:33 Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau
8:44 Rory McIlroy, Russell Henley
8:55 Louis Oosthuizen, Mackenzie Hughes
04:38 PM
Rory McIlroy and Co ready to make their move
It took time but suddenly the Big Names have moved into contention. With just 18 holes to go at Torrey Pines some of the world’s best are lurking with intent after an absorbing third round on Saturday.
Louis Oosthuizen is among the leading trio who head into the the final round on five-under. An eagle on the 18th last night moved the South African with the smooth swing to the top of the leaderboard where he keeps unheralded Mackenzie Hughes and Russell Henley company. Oosthuizen has never won in the USA and has been waiting for his second major for 11 years now. He is the man to catch.
Lying in wait ready to pounce are a host of major winners not far back who will fancy their chances if they can keep the bogeys off their cards.
Rory Mcilroy shot a four-under 67 on Saturday. He looked in control and speaking last night said he fancies he is chances today
“I am happy with how I played. There weren’t as many black numbers today which is really nice. I started solidly and played so well tee-to-green until the 15th. It’s the best I’ve played all week,” he commented.
“It would mean an awful lot, I feel good and I’ve given myself a chance. It seems a while since I’ve had a chance to win a major, my game feels good.”
McIlroy will tee it up on three-under which is the same score as the defending champion Bryson DeChambeau. The American made history on Saturday shooting his first ever bogey-free round at a major. His blemish-free 68 was a impressive as it was ominous and he too his confident heading into the final round.
“You’ve got to be really patient out here at these majors,” DeChambeau said. “It’s something that is not easy to do. I feel like I’m starting to understand major championship golf and how to play it and how to go about managing my game, my attitude and just my patience level. If I can continue to do that tomorrow, I think I’ll have a good chance.”
That big-name duo aren’t the only heralded names within striking distance of Oosthuizen and Co.
Jon Rahm, Matthew Wolff, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele are all within four-shots of the five-under lead.
Oosthuizen said of Torrey Pines: “It’s just a tough, old-fashioned golf course. You’re going to have nerves. You’re going to feel it. It’s about how you’re going to handle it. It’s a golf course where anything can happen.”
Stay here to find out what does happen.