US Open golf 2021: third round – live! – The Guardian

McIlroy steers his putt on 17 over the hump to kick-in distance. A decent par after that drive. A fairly miserable bogey for Wolff on 9, though. From the middle of the fairway, he sends his second behind a tree. He’s forced to hack out into a bunker and take his chances with an up and down. His splash out is weak, and his long par putt is a total misread. A catalogue of errors, and he’s getting a wee big agitated again. He’s -3.

McIlroy’s tee shot at 17 goes right this time. Only just off the fairway, but it disappears into the thick stuff. He whips his second onto the green, albeit nowhere near the flag, but he’d have probably taken that outcome. A tricky two putts over a hump coming up. Meanwhile on the par-five 13th, DeChambeau’s back foot slips as he drives, sending his ball into deep rough on the right. He powers his second into equally thick nonsense on the left, but he’s near the green and will be happy to work with that.

A word on Bubba Watson, who is having a shocker so far. Bogeys at 3, 6 and 7, and he’s tumbled down the standings to level par. He’s alongside Xander Schauffele, who has also been out of sorts: out in 36, and now bogey at 10. Schauffele’s playing partner Scottie Scheffler drops a shot there too, and he slips back to -1. US Opens are hard.

A birdie for Collin Morikawa at 13. He’s been quiet today, but now he’s under par for his round … and for the championship. He’s -1. Meanwhile a huge roar by Matthew Wolff, who has calmed down considerably since his hot flush on 7. He steers in a delicate 20-foot right-to-left breaker on the par-three 8th, and the birdie brings him to within a shot at -4!

Updated
at 6.07pm EDT

A sad end to Bob MacIntyre’s round. Bogey at 18, and he’s signing for a one-over 72. Still, he’s +3 for the week, currently in a tie for 33rd, and this is yet another decent showing from the young man from Oban. He’s clocking up plenty of major-championship experience.

Birdies for Scheffler and Schauffele at 9. They’re -2 and -1 respectively. Bogey for Rahm at 8; he’s -2. And on 7, Wolff briefly threatens to boil over as his second topples unluckily down a swale to the left of the green. He then overhits his chip up, as well as the one coming back. On both occasions, he batters the earth with his club. Fortunately he manages to limit the damage by rolling in a staunch 12-foot bogey putt. He slips to -3.

Henley does well to lag his long par putt to 18 inches, and limits the damage to bogey. Par for Bland, who scrambles brilliantly from the front. Up on 11, DeChambeau creams his tee shot straight at the flag, leaving an eight-footer for birdie, but he fails to hit it. Par, and he remains at -2. And on 15, McIlroy hooks an iron around the trees, and finds the fairway, 50 yards from the green. A great outcome from where he was, but he’s hit three, and a double is the most likely outcome … unless he can find a big up-and-down.

McIlroy’s ball has indeed disappeared down an embankment. It’s a penalty zone, and he’s forced to take a drop. This could get costly, because there are trees blocking the route to the green. Full punishment for what was an appalling tee shot. Back on 6, Henley is left with an uphill lie in the bunker and the face nearby. He splashes out, but gets nowhere close. He’ll be left with a 40-footer for par.

Bland misclubs coming into 6, and he’ll have to get up and down from off the front to save his par. Just a little stutter, coming after the dropped shot at 5. His partner Henley finds the rough down the right with his tee shot, then pulls his second into the bunker front left of the green. He might be up against a lip there. And up on 15, McIlroy flays a dreadful drive miles left, over the filth, past some trees, and down what appears to be a ditch. Let’s see where that’s ended up.

On 18, Dustin Johnson finds the back of the green with a big second shot, the ball briefly threatening to roll back down the slope towards the cup. It stubbornly stops, but he rolls from 30 feet to tap-in distance for birdie. That’s a 68, and at -1, the 2016 champion is the new clubhouse leader.

Im Sung-jae is in the house with a 69, as is Francesco Molinari. A 68 for Ian Poulter, and all three are currently sharing the early clubhouse lead alongside Paul Casey, at level par.

Just a par for DeChambeau on the par-five 9th. He’ll feel that, because he was in front of the green in two, but underhit his chip in, sending his ball toppling back down the ridge running across the green. He nearly makes the long birdie putt, but remains at -2.

Looking back, it was never going to happen. Phil Mickelson winning back-to-back majors at 51, that is. He signs today for a 76 that crashes him down the leader board to a tie for 64th. Back in 40, with a double at 17. He’s +7, but he’ll always have Kiawah. Meanwhile the exciting young Italian, Guido Migliozzi, sends a tramliner into the cup at 7 to move to -1.

For the second time today, Rahm pulls a short birdie putt to the left. This one at 5 keeps him at level for his round and -3 for the tournament. Bland and Henley split the fairway at 4.

Henley can’t make his birdie putt on 3. A slightly nervous effort by a player who has been overachieving with his flat stick so far this week. Two steady putts for Bland, though, and the pair remain one clear of Wolff at -5.

Trouble for Bryson at 7, as he sends his drive down a bank to the side of 7. He’ll need a big break of luck there … and he doesn’t get it. He’s in a penalty area, and has to drop. But he’ll have a chance of escaping with par nevertheless, because he wedges to six feet. This’ll be one hell of a boost if he can get out of Dodge unscathed. Meanwhile up on the hardest hole on the course, the par-three 11th, McIlroy nearly steals a march on the entire field by sending his tee shot over the flag to six feet. But the putt he’s left with is still hellishly difficult, a downhill tickler with a huge right-to-left break. He nearly curls it in, but par will have to do.

Henley pulls his drive at 2 into thick oomska down the right. A terrible lie. He powers it out as best he can, but there’s no way he’s reaching the green. He gets it as far as the semi-rough, which doesn’t sound great, but is quite the result from where he was. US Open, you see. He’ll need to get up and down from distance if he’s to stay in the lead … unless his partner Bland bogeys, of course, and his second has leaked into the fringe at the back.

Some high jinks with Justin Thomas on 8. He loses his balance and falls over as he splashes out of a bunker at the front of the par-three. His ball lands 15 feet past the cup, then threatens to spin back all the way. He beckons the ball towards him by waving his club, then mimes a fishing reel. The gallery enjoyed that one. He tidies up for his par, and, as students of the previous entry will have already ascertained, remains at -1.

A timely burst by Im Sung-jae. The 23-year-old Korean, who already has a tie for second at Augusta on his CV, birdies 13 and 14 to spring up to level par for the tournament. He’s been steady rather than spectacular so far this week, with a couple of 72s, but suddenly he’s tied for 13th place. A strong finish from here, and he’ll be well placed for tomorrow.

Here come the leaders! The surprise leaders. The final group takes to the course. Russell Henley sends his tee shot down the left side of the fairway, then Richard Bland – the Rocco Mediate de nos jours? – follows him down the same side. He looks after it anxiously, but that’s on the short stuff, and hopefully will settle a few of the old nerves.

Bryson’s old pal Brooks three-putts 8 and drops back to level par. He doesn’t look totally happy with his game this week, his putter especially misbehaving in uncharacteristic fashion. Back on 1, Oosthuizen bashes his third to six feet, a fine outcome from a dreadful position, and he’s left with a great chance of escaping with par.

Oosthuizen doesn’t get good contact in the bunker, and dumps his second further up the hole into the thick rough. Wolff manages to power his second onto the green, though, taking advantage of his not being snookered by the trees. That’s a fine recovery. Meanwhile up on 5, DeChambeau powers a monster drive down the middle, wedges to six feet, then pulls the birdie putt. He walks off in frustration.

It’s good to see last year’s runner-up Matthew Wolff back in the mix and enjoying his golf again, the young Californian having struggled with his mental health recently. In that sense, how he scores today is a secondary issue. Godspeed, Matthew. Still, going one better than last year would be quite nice, too. He sends his opening drive into deep trouble down the right; his route to the green may be obscured by trees. No need to panic; he started slowly yesterday before rallying to a 68. He’s going round with Louis Oosthuizen, who drives into a bunker. Off they go.

Would there be a more popular winner than Bubba Watson this week? Well, Phil, obviously, but that’s not going to happen. He pulls his opening drive into thick filth down the right of 1, but gouges a wedge onto the green nonetheless, and nearly drains the long birdie putt. An opening par to remain at -3. His partner Jon Rahm knocks his second to 12 feet, but pulls his putt slightly, and it’s par for the big Spaniard too.

Bryson muscles his second from the right of 4 to eight feet, a marvellous recovery. But he seriously underhits his birdie effort, and has to settle for par. The defending champ remains at -1. Birdie for Christiaan Bezuidenhout at 4; the 27-year-old South African, slowly establishing himself as a major-tournament fixture, moves to -1.

A 74 for Tommy Fleetwood, who ends the day at +6; a one-over 72 for Matt Fitzpatrick, which is not bad going after finding himself four over for his round after five holes. He’s +4.

Birdie to finish for the 2014 champion Martin Kaymer. He signs for another excellent round, a 69 to go alongside yesterday’s 68. Shame, shame, shame about that opening 77. Here’s to a sustained run of form now for a player who has always been a tad streaky. Birdie too for his partner, the 2019 winner Gary Woodland. He’s +5 after a 73.

The greens get firmer and bumpier as the day goes on, so the good front-nine scores of earlier seem a little more elusive now. Nobody’s making any sort of significant move out of the pack and towards the leaders … yet. Birdie for Mr 62, Branden Grace, at 2; he’s -1.

Some more US Open style shenanigans at the par-three 3rd. Collin Morikawa’s tee shot isn’t too far away from the pin, tucked away to the left of the green. But he misses by a couple of feet, and takes two to chip out from the thick rough. He does very well to make the awkward six-footer he leaves himself, but that’s still a bogey and he’s +1.

Brian Harman has just taken four putts from three feet at 6. It costs him a triple-bogey seven, and he crashes down the standings to +2. The bumpy, inconsistent, difficult-to-read poa-annua greens of Torrey Pines, ladies and gentlemen.

Ian Poulter nearly chips in from a greenside bunker at 18. It’s his second birdie in the last three holes, and he’s signing for a 68 that brings him to level par for the week. Meanwhile up on 1, Bryson DeChambeau makes an opening birdie to move to -1. He’s alongside Brooks Koepka on the leader board, and yes of course everyone’s already dreaming of a Super Sunday Showdown tomorrow.

Nobody does golfing misfortune quite like Sergio Garcia, and this effort is special, even by his own lofty standards. At the bottom of the big false front at 13, he wedges up delightfully, straight at the flag. Nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine times out of a thousand, the ball’s pitching just past the cup, and spinning back real close. This time, however, it takes one bounce, clatters flush into the flagstick, spins back, rolls slowly down the false front, and stops with serene grace on the exact spot from whence it came. Sergio, having not moved an inch, remains stock still, staring down at the ball’s reappearance in stunned disbelief. The whole thing, needless to say, was played out with perfect comic timing as the ball, like an obedient old dog, made its inevitable journey back to the feet of its master. Sergio ends up with a double-bogey seven, because that’s how these things pan out for him. He’s +7.

Updated
at 3.39pm EDT

Birdie for Brooks Koepka at 2; birdie for Justin Thomas at 1. Both are -1 for the tournament. DJ nearly makes another birdie at the par-three 8th, but his ten-foot putt lips out, much to his knee-buckling frustration. News of the Open champion Shane Lowry, meanwhile: he shot his second 72 of the week today, and will go into the final round at +5.

The 2016 champion Dustin Johnson made it to the weekend. Which, as world number one, you’d expect him to, until you remember he missed the cut when defending his Masters title, then at the PGA. A little major-championship confidence rebuilt, he’s picked up shots at 1 and now 7 this morning. Those birdies sandwiched a fine two-putt par save from 80 feet, with a dramatic right-to-left break over a ridge, on 4. He’s level par for the tournament.

No great drama for Koepka on 1. He finds the green from that aforementioned fairway bunker, then takes two putts for an opening par. Up on 9, Phil Mickelson sends his second to six feet, but then pulls his short eagle putt. He’s disgusted with himself, as the chance to wipe out his earlier bogeys at 4 and 6 is spurned. Just the birdie, and he’s +3.

Jordan Spieth nearly drains a monster eagle putt from the back of 18. It stops one dimple short. The 2015 champion has been this close to finishing his round with back-to-back eagles; that would really have shaken the field. As it is, it’s just – just! – back-to-back birdies, and he taps in for a 68. He’s +1 overall, and it’s such a shame about that opening round of 77. You gotta love watching Jordan Spieth. Birdie too for his playing partner Paul Casey, who signs for an excellent 67, and the pair are all smiles as they depart the scene. Casey’s level par for the tournament.

Back-to-back birdies for Brian Harman! The diminutive lefty shared second place with Hideki Matsuyama behind Brooks Koepka at Erin Hills in 2017, having led after 54 holes. He’s birdied 3 and 4 to move into red figures for the tournament at -1. Time for your daily reminder that no left-handed golfer has ever won the US Open … and there’s more on that subject, with Scotland’s great young hope Bob MacIntyre making birdie at 5 to move to +1.

Here comes Brooks! The 2017 and 2018 champion sends his opening drive into a bunker down the left of 1. Not sure he’ll have the best stance, but the lie is fine. Meanwhile up on 17, Casey sends his second into a deep greenside bunker and it’s back-to-back bogeys for the 43-year-old from Cheltenham. He’s +1.

It’s not been Jordan Spieth’s week. He’s never quite managed to keep any momentum going. His round today is a case in point: out in 32, then bogeys at 14 and 15. On 17, left with 117 to the flag, he deliberates for an age with his caddy Michael Greller, switching clubs back and forth, before landing a wedge over the flag and spinning it back to a couple of inches. So close to a sensational eagle, but the birdie will do, bringing him up to +2.

Having just made it into red figures, Casey slips back out of them. He finds a bunker at the par-three 16th, and the bogey brings him down to level par. He’s alongside Daniel Berger, who sent his approach at 1 to kick-in distance for birdie; he’s level for the week through 3. Back on 1, McIlroy whistles his second to 12 feet, but his left-to-right-breaking birdie effort is always staying out on the high side, and by some margin. Bit of a misread, and not quite the busy start he was looking for.

Rory McIlroy needs something similar if he’s to break a major drought that stretches back to 2014. He sends his opening drive into the bunker down the right of 1, though he’s got a nice flat lie and should still reach the green from there. Also barren since 2014 – without a title at all, never mind just the majors – is that year’s US Open champion Martin Kaymer. He’s been woefully out of form for yonks, but found a little something yesterday when he crashed a fairway wood onto the 18th, from 255 yards to ten feet, and made eagle. A 68 that put right a lot of the damage caused by his opening round of 77. He continued that form this morning, turning in 32 after birdies at 2, 4 and 9, reaching level par for the tournament. He’s since faltered with bogeys at 11 and 12, slipping back to +2; nevertheless, the return of the two-time major-winning German, who also has a Players title and a winning Ryder Cup putt on his CV, is most welcome.

Preamble