Rory McIlroy has crashed out of the US Open after a dramatic collapse during the closing stretch of his second round at Oakmont.
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None of the six players who remained under par has ever won a major championship. Dustin Johnson is also four shots behind Lowry after shooting a one-over 71.
Shane Lowry’s once-comfortable lead at the U.S. Open is down to two shots.
And then there was Dustin Johnson, no stranger to suffering in the majors. The reality is there probably won’t be four birdies and an eagle out there for Day like he made on his way to a 4-under 66 that vaulted him up the leaderboard in the third round.
After an opening round of 76, Jason Day found himself a long way down the leaderboard and with a lot of work to do to make the cut.
Through it all, Lowry looked poised. He was thrilled to stop and catch his breath. Not only when you’re out there, but when you get back, you’re always thinking about it at nighttime.
“We all know that this course can jump up and bite you in a split second”, Lowry said. “I’m two ahead with 22 holes left”.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves”, the Irish player said. “I’m not sure it’s going to be the same on the first tee this afternoon but I am where I am. I thought he would slowly regress, but he’s still in position”.
“I’m playing well enough to do it, but I just need a chance right now”, he said. He closed with a 35-foot birdie putt for a 70 that put him into the final group.
He took the one-shot penalty, then saved his mood with an 8-foot bogey putt.
QUOTEWORTHY: “To hole that second putt was massive for me, and massive for my whole day”.
The Irishman, scenting a first major, held a three-stroke lead over Andrew Landry at the weather-affected tournament after completing a marathon 32 holes on Saturday at the testing Oakmont Country Club.
The leader in the clubhouse when the day ended was Branden Grace, who a year ago at Chambers Bay was tied for the lead until he hit 3-wood onto the train track and out-of-bounds for a double bogey that cost him. Good news for the South African: A train can be heard from Oakmont… but not hit.
“I don’t feel like I have to search for anything on the range”, Mickelson said. I’m curious to see it tomorrow.
‘But I know how hard it is going to be in the final round.
The top-ranked golfer in the world shot 66 in the third round of the U.S. Open to move to 1 over par and a tie for eighth place.
The inclement conditions mean Lowry will have to finish his third round from 7am [Pittsburgh time] before taking a few hours off and going out for the final 18.
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Landry, the 28-year-old qualifier in his first U.S. Open, was two shots behind. That’ll be crucial on Sunday, especially as the course gets drier and faster after this week’s rain.
