LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau opened up a commanding three-shot lead in the third round of the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina.
DeChambeau, who finished solo second at the US PGA last month, made six birdies en route to a 3-under 67 on Saturday as he took full advantage of a back-nine collapse from 36-hole leader Ludvig Aberg, who made a costly triple-bogey seven on 13 during a round of 3-over 73.
The big-hitting American is looking to land his second US Open title having already etched his name on the trophy at Winged Foot in 2020.
DeChambeau had stretched into a four-shot lead by the 15th tee but he made a costly double-bogey six on the 16th from nowhere to give the chasing pack some hope.
But he bounced back superbly by draining a 12-footer for birdie on the tough par-3 17th to open up a three-shot lead heading into Sunday.
| Bryson DeChambeau | -7 (67) |
| Matthieu Pavon | -4 (69) |
| Rory McIlroy | -4 (69) |
| Patrick Cantlay | -4 (70) |
| Hideki Matsuyama | -2 (70) |
| Ludvig Aberg | -2 (73) |
| Tyrrell Hatton | -1 (70) |
| Tony Finau | -1 (72) |
| Collin Morikawa | Par (66) |
| Corey Conners | Par (71) |
| Tom Kim | Par (71) |
Rory McIlroy (69), Matthieu Pavon (69) and Patrick Cantlay (70) are the closest pursuers to DeChambeau at 4-under par in a tie for second.
McIlroy is going in search of his fifth career major title and a first in nearly 10 years, while Cantlay and Pavon are both looking for their first major victory.
Other players still in contention for the US Open include Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau and Tyrrell Hatton, Collin Morikawa, Corey Conners and Tom Kim.
Morikawa fired a best-of-the-day 66 to nose into the top 10.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler (71) has had a rare week to forget and is well out of contention at 6-over par.
DeChambeau -7 (F)
It's a two-putt par for DeChambeau on 18 and the LIV Golf star will take a commanding three-shot lead into the final round of the 2024 US Open.
McIlroy, Cantlay and Pavon are all on 4-under par in a tie for second.
DeChambeau is now on the verge of landing his second US Open title having etched his name on the trophy at Winged Foot during the covid lockdown in 2020.
Here's a look at the top 10:
| Bryson DeChambeau | -7 (67) |
| Matthieu Pavon | -4 (69) |
| Rory McIlroy | -4 (69) |
| Patrick Cantlay | -4 (70) |
| Hideki Matsuyama | -2 (70) |
| Ludvig Aberg | -2 (73) |
| Tyrrell Hatton | -1 (70) |
| Tony Finau | -1 (72) |
| Collin Morikawa | Par (66) |
| Corey Conners | Par (71) |
| Tom Kim | Par (71) |
DeChambeau -7 (17)
DeChambeau hits a stunning iron shot to within 12 feet of the pin on the tough par-3 17th, and he curls home the putt.
A brilliant bounceback birdie for Bryson!
DeChambeau -6 (16)
DeChambeau makes his big mistake of the day.
He split the fairway off the tee but then came up short with his approach shot.
The LIV Golf man then came up short again and it led to a double-bogey six.
He now only leads by two.
Cantlay -4 (17)
Cantlay buries a 16-footer for birdie on the tough par-3 17th to move into a share of second place on 4-under par alongside McIlroy and Pavon, who have both just posted rounds of 69.
| Bryson DeChambeau | -8 (15) |
| Matthieu Pavon | -4 (69) |
| Rory McIlroy | -4 (17) |
| Patrick Cantlay | -3 (16) |
| Hideki Matsuyama | -2 (70) |
| Ludvig Aberg | -2 (15) |
| Tyrrell Hatton | -1 (70) |
| Tony Finau | -1 (17) |
| Collin Morikawa | Par (66) |
| Corey Conners | Par (71) |
| Tom Kim | Par (71) |
McIlroy -4 (17)
McIlroy goes in the one spot you can't miss on 17.
Right.
He sends his iron shot into the bunker and fails to get up and down.
McIlroy is now four back of DeChambeau.
Matsuyama -2 (18)
It's a closing bogey for Matsuyama.
He's now six back.
DeChambeau -8 (14)
DeChambeau curls home a downhill 10-footer to stretch into a three-shot lead on 8-under par.
Massive putt, massive reaction.
Is Bryson on the verge of a second US Open title?
Aberg -3 (14)
Brilliant bounceback birdie for Aberg from 15 feet at the par-4 14th.
McIlroy -5 (16)
McIlroy drills home a 12-footer for par on the par-4 16th.
He remains two back of DeChambeau, who has just hit a lovely shot into the 14th.
Aberg -2 (13)
It's a triple-bogey seven for Aberg on 13.
The Swede started Wimbledon early by playing tennis on the hole.
He went long of the green with his third shot and then sent his fourth back across the other side.
Aberg is now five back of DeChambeau
DeChambeau had a chance to pull three clear but he missed his six-foot birdie attempt.
McIlroy -5 (15)
McIlroy finds sand on 15 and it leads to a bogey.
He's now back to two behind.
McIlroy -6 (14)
McIlroy stiffs his approach shot to kick-in distance at the par-4 14th.
He's one behind DeChambeau.
Finau -1 (13)
Finau is struggling here.
After a bogey at 12, he's just made a disastrous triple-bogey seven at 13.
He's now six back.
DeChambeau -7 (11)
DeChambeau is heating up now with four birdies in his last seven holes.
The LIV Golf star now opens up a two-shot lead over Pavon, McIlroy and Aberg.
McIlroy -5, Finau -4 (12)
McIlroy makes his move by curling home a birdie from 12 feet at the 12th.
It hauls him up into a tie for second place.
He's one back of DeChambeau.
Finau makes bogey to fall back to 4-under par.
DeChambeau -6 (10)
DeChambeau converts his birdie putt from five feet to take the outright lead on 6-under par.
He's one clear of Aberg, Finau and Pavon.
Aberg -5 (10)
It's a simple birdie for Aberg but it could have been much better.
Aberg missed an eagle putt from inside of 10 feet.
He's back into a share of the lead though.
Here's the second shot from Aberg. It was arguably the shot of the day so far:
Matsuyama -2 (12)
The former Masters champ is not done with this yet. He's just birdied the 12th to get back to level for the day and to within three of the lead.
Since we're at the top of the hour and the leaders are now on the back nine, it's probably a good time for a leaderboard update.
It's getting tense at the top, but just about everyone who started in contention for the US Open today is still in with a shot of etching their name on the trophy tomorrow.
| Matthieu Pavon | -5 (11) |
| Tony Finau | -5 (11) |
| Bryson DeChambeau | -5 (9) |
| Rory McIlroy | -4 (11) |
| Ludvig Aberg | -4 (9) |
| Tyrrell Hatton | -3 (12) |
| Patrick Cantlay | -3 (11) |
Pavon -5 (11), Aberg -4 (9)
Pavon falls back into a tie for the lead after a bogey on 11.
Aberg follows suits on 9.
We've now got four leaders - DeChambeau, Finau and Pavon.
McIlroy and Aberg one back.
Cantlay -3 (9)
Cantlay's tee shot plugs in the front bunker and it leads to a bogey.
He's now three back.
Pavon still leads, but DeChambeau, Finau and McIlroy have all just picked up birdies.
It's getting tight at the top now.
Let's take a look at the latest board:
| Matthieu Pavon | -6 (10) |
| Tony Finau | -5 (9) |
| Bryson DeChambeau | -5 (7) |
| Ludvig Aberg | -5 (7) |
| Rory McIlroy | -4 (9) |
| Patrick Cantlay | -4 (7) |
| Tyrrell Hatton | -3 (10) |
Conners -3 (10)
Conners holes out from 10 feet at the par-5 10th.
He moves to within two.
