US Open golf 2023: third round – live updates | US Open

Clark can’t save his par on the eleventh from the sand so falls right into a share of the lead with Fowler.

And what did I say about Cam Smith? He’s simply discovered a horrible lie behind a bunker and solely simply escaped it. He will virtually actually be under-par for the again 9 for only a few extra minutes extra.

Only one man within the present high 12 on the leaderboard is under-par for holes performed right this moment on the again 9. The subsequent two hours needs to be basic US Open golf. (Cam Smith is that man at -1.)

A testing interval for English. After his bogey on the eleventh, his tee shot on the par-four twelfth finds tough and he can solely hack it down the green. The third shot skips by way of the inexperienced so he must stand up and down for bogey. He bunts the ball previous the outlet and has 4’9” for bogey … he makes it. He isn’t chewing as he walks away – does he want extra gum or is it an indication of stress? He’s now -1 for the day, -8 for the week and three again of Clark.

Fowler saved par at 10 and Clark matched it. The eleventh is a par-three measuring 273-yards, however downhill. Fowler lands his ball quick and it runs down into the centre of the inexperienced. Clark takes lifeless purpose on the pin and the ball clatters right into a bunker wanting the placing floor.

Matt Fitzpatrick talked in regards to the course earlier and LA CC members gained’t be dashing to TripAdvisor to learn his evaluation.

“I just think the golf course is interesting, to be polite,” he stated. “There’s just too many holes for me where you’ve got blind tee shots and then you’ve got fairways that don’t hold the ball. There’s too much slope.

“You hit a good tee shot and end up in the rough by a foot and then you’re hacking it out. Meanwhile, someone has hit it miles offline the other way and they’ve got a shot. Yeah, not my cup of tea.”

Yikes! English has a brief putt catch the outlet however not sufficient of it to drop on the eleventh to make bogey and Fowler’s method to the tenth has landed in, effectively, it seems like cabbage.

How have the leaders performed the again 9 to date this week? It’s been the more durable 9, bear in mind. Here are their numbers (the par is 36):

Clark 33-32 = -7
English 34-36 = -2
Fowler 32-36 = -4
McIlroy 35-37 = E
Schauffele 32-36 = -4

Par-threes for Clark and Fowler on the ninth. The discipline is thru the flip and the highest of the scoring seems like this:

-11: W Clark (9)
-10: H English (10), R Fowler (9)
-9: R McIlroy (10)
-8: X Schauffele (10)

Trouble for McIlroy straight after the flip. His drive hoops to the left and from the clinging tough he can solely hack the ball into the bunker in entrance of the inexperienced.

Forward on the 14th, a birdie for Ryutaro Nagano, the Japanese qualifier. He’s -4 for the three par-fives right this moment, -5 for the match and tied sixth.

McIlroy performs a high quality sand shot and may save par at 10.

Richard Hirst emails about Dave’s music references this week: “Will Rory be Mr Mojo risin’?” he asks after which provides: “By the way, spare a thought for those of us in France, where it is even later!”

The putts are dropping once more! First Schauffele nails a 19-foot birdie putt on the ninth to show in level-par. He’s fought arduous however he’s executed so on the simpler 9. Then English drops an opportunity from 12-feet on the tenth. He’s -3 for the round, -10 for the week and tied second.

Cam Smith joins in with a superbly curving effort from 18-feet. It’s for birdie however solely will get him again to level-par for the day.

There was speak earlier right this moment that the pin place on the par-five eighth was opening up all types of alternatives for eagles. But the leaders aren’t taking the prospect.

Dustin Johnson and Harris English made fives. McIlroy did so, too. Schauffele did tick a birdie, however Clark is one other to solely write “5” on his card after needing 4 photographs to achieve the inexperienced. And Fowler? Yep, one other 5.

Schauffele fails to reap the benefits of his sensational 266-yard method to the par-five eighth and misses from 6-feet. But the birdie continues his battle again. He’s -7 for the week now.

McIlroy can solely make par from the barranca and, behind them, Clark’s drive hangs within the tough on the high of the sloping fairway. It’s arrange an ungainly second, virtually actually taking eagle out of the equation.

And now Fowler makes a transfer! To the delight of the galleries he drains a 36-foot birdie putt on the seventh. He’s level-par for the day once more and -10 general, one behind Clark.

The chief secures his par-three with an excellent up-and-down on the identical gap.

Harris English avoids a mistake from the barranca wanting the par-five eighth. He can solely hack out however he two putts safely. Chewing his gum and pulling at his shirt I can half think about him in a pair of dungarees, sat in a rocking chair, searching throughout a prairie.

In the group behind him, Schauffele hits an exquisite method to only 6-feet however McIlroy is in the identical spot English was in.

Thanks Dave. A contact of magic from Rory McIlroy on the par-three seventh after his huge tee shot took a kiss off a tree. The pitch was probably quick, with little management from the Bermuda tough, however he’s knocked it shut and may save his par.

Back on the quick par-three sixth Rickie Fowler’s birdie try comes up quick. Clark has a shorter par breaking alternative, from 12 toes, and he misses on the excessive aspect.

Schauffele makes his first birdie of the day after rolling in a nine-footer at 6 to get to -6. That was a lot wanted after the early insanity. Time now handy over to Matt to information you house.

Leaderboard replace

English jumps to -9 with birdie at 6 so extra daylight opens up between the highest 4 and the chasing pack. It’s value noting that the main quartet are all rating extremely within the Strokes Gained: Putting stats. Clark is third, Fowler 4th, McIlroy eighth and English 2nd. That isn’t at all times the case in majors (Jon Rahm solely ranked twenty second for Putting when profitable the US Masters) however it does appear to be a giant issue this week.

Clark and Fowler each make par at 4 to stay -11 and -10 respectively. Then Clark smashes a bounding drive down 5, Fowler following it with a much less convincing effort that tumbles into tough on the best.

Dustin Johnson is making a multitude of issues since his opening birdie. He’s bogeyed 2 and 5 whereas there’s speak of a shank on the quick par-4 sixth. He’ll have seven toes to save lots of par.

With Schauffele swallowing a third bogey of the day at 5, we now have some separation on the high with 4 gamers beginning to pull clear.

-11: W Clark (4)
-10 R Fowler (4)
-9 R McIlroy (5)
-8: H English (5)
-5: R Nagano (10), S Scheffler (7), M W Lee (6), D Johnson (5), X Schauffele (5)

Keith Mitchell’s method at 14 clatters into Bryson DeChambeau and Si Woo Kim on the sixteenth tee! DeChambeau seems considerably aggrieved however Kim performs it for laughs, rolling onto the ground feigning harm. Mitchell provides him slightly hug as they converge.

Four US Open champions now reside within the high 10. Rory is the very best of them at -9 whereas we even have Dustin Johnson (-6), Bryson DeChambeau (-4) and Gary Woodland (-4).

Another main winner, Scottie Scheffler, can’t get a head of steam up and stays at -5 after mixing birdies at 1 and 6 with bogeys at 2 and 5. He shares sixth spot with the shock determine of Ryutaro Nagano. The 35-year-old from Japan is making his US debut after coming by way of qualifying at Ibaraki Golf Club in his homeland.

The lead switches palms once more as Clark takes over on the high on 11 underneath by rolling in a seven-foot birdie putt at 3. Fowler can’t match him from comparable distance so stays one again. Rory should gap from 10 toes at 4 to additionally stay a single shot off the tempo however he catches the lip in order that’s a bogey and after a quick dalliance with the lead McIlroy is now two behind. Schauffele’s psychedelic begin lastly finds some normality with a par on the identical gap though he has to sink a six footer after racing his first putt previous.

While Schauffele is all over, McIlroy is beginning to have a ball on this entrance 9 for the third day working. He curls in a 12-footer at 3 and that second birdie in three holes places him right into a share of the lead for the primary time this week. A reminder that he’s shot 5-under 30 on this simpler 9 on each days. Some nervousness on 4 although. “Oh no,” shouts McIlroy as his tee shot heads in the direction of some barranca-based catastrophe however it finds the shorter grass simply off the inexperienced.

-10: R McIlroy (3), W Clark (2), R Fowler (10)
-8: H English (8)
-6: M W Lee (4), D Johnson (4), X Schauffele (3)

Scheffler’s ‘tell’ when underneath stress is pulling tee photographs left – he did the identical within the ultimate round at Quail Hollow – and on the third gap he tugs one other one which approach and into some thick stuff. The lie is okay however he can’t management the method and it bounds away into extra hassle. His chip onto the inexperienced runs away from him and he’ll want extra smoke and mirrors to save lots of par. Not this time although and it’s a bogey. An ugly 6-4-5 begin drops him to 6-under though Fowler bogeys 2 so it’s solely 4 again. He desperately must cease these pull-hooks although.

Koepka shuffles off the fifteenth inexperienced and indicators for a 5. Hard to point out a lot alpha-male swagger while you’ve simply made double bogey on a gap measuring 81 yards. It takes him again to -1 general and in a tie for twenty second. More importantly, that’s an enormous, nay irretrievable, 10 photographs behind the chief.

Tom Kim finishes his day with a par at 18. It threatend to be an astonishing one after he negotiated the primary 10 holes in 7-under however three bogeys over the ultimate holes restricted him to a 66. An awesome effort and the low round of the day to date however there will likely be some disappointment. The leaderboard exhibits him at -3 for the match, eight again.

Incredible resilience from Schauffele. His chip from left of the inexperienced at 2 ends 35 toes away from the outlet however he pours within the par putt! He may simply be 3 or 4 over for these first two holes however he’s someway performed them in only a single shot over par. Safe par for Rory at 2.

Leaderboard replace

At final, the ultimate group – Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark – is welcomed on the primary tee. Fowler finds the left of the green together with his drive. We don’t see Clark’s shot however he’s crushed one 375 yards down the best the official web site tells me.

Up on the inexperienced, Rory cosies his eagle attempt to tap-in vary and the birdie strikes him one off the lead. Schauffele shakes off bunker-gate with a superb up and down from 130 yards to restrict the injury to a bogey. Still a severe misstep at such a simple gap however as an alternative of a four-shot swing between Schauffele and McIlroy, it’s half that.

-10: R Fowler (-)
-9: R McIlroy (1), W Clark (-)
-8: H English (1)
-7: D Johnson (1), X Schauffele (1)
-5: S Scheffler (3), M W Lee (2)

My goodness. Absolute meltdown for Schauffele on the 1st. After his drive finds sand, he thins his second from the bunker into the lip and the ball rebounds behind him. Then, in escalating scenes of utter shock and disbelief, he does the identical factor once more together with his third. Finally, he will get out however that’s 4 photographs already. He’s observing a double bogey on a gap the place a birdie is mainly par. Hard to imagine. McIlroy ignores the chaos and hits a beaut to 16 toes. Eagle putt arising. Blimey.

Time for the penultimate group – Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy. The American pulls the set off first, launching his drive straight into sand down the left. Rory smashes one onto the green and does slightly smooth shoe shuffle as he reaches for the tee. That’s excellent. Rory has performed this entrance 9 in a mixed 10-under to date so let’s hope for some fireworks over the subsequent couple of hours.

Up on the inexperienced, Harris English calmly rolls in a ten footer for birdie and he’s as much as -8. DJ birdies and goes to -7. We have an lively leaderboard, of us.

-10: R Fowler (-)
-9: W Clark (-)
-8: H English (1), R McIlroy (-), X Schauffele (-)
-7: D Johnson (1)
-6: M W Lee (1)

Contrasting fortunes for Tom Kim and defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick on the 81 (eighty one) yard par fifteenth. Fitzpatrick comes inside a medium dimension cat’s whisker of constructing gap in a single there for the second time this week. But Kim wants 4 swings so after taking part in the primary 10 holes in a outstanding 7-under he’s given two photographs again within the final three holes. All that leaves Kim at -4 (tenth) and Fitzpatrick, thanks high his birdie, at -2 (twenty first).

Also no birdie for Min Woo Lee at 1; that’s a chance missed and he’ll be kicking himself. He stays at 6-under.

Scottie Scheffler has opened with a two-putt birdie at 1 as you’d most likely anticipate at that straightforward starter. Up to -6 and 4 again.

Back to stroll on music and Matt Round writes: “If he wants to keep the LA theme then Padraig could come on to Old Man by Love, whose lead singer Arthur was the dad of Min Woo. Possibly.”

Boom! Brooks Koepka, standing out from the gang in his schoolbus yellow shirt, holes from a bunker for birdie at 12. That’s his fourth of the round in opposition to one bogey. At -3 (tied sixteenth) is he on this? I’m nonetheless saying no.

If you’re simply becoming a member of us, haven’t paid a lot consideration to tee occasions and surprise how Rory, Rickie and the leaders are getting on, some information: they haven’t teed off but. Nearly there although.

23:18 Harris English (US), Dustin Johnson (US)
23:29 Rory McIlroy (NI), Xander Schauffele (US)
23:40 Wyndham Clark (US), Rickie Fowler (US)

It’s most likely honest to offer Bryson DeChambeau ‘charging’ standing. The 2020 US Open winner traded two birdies with two bogeys over his first 5 holes to maneuver exactly nowhere. But ‘The Scientist’ (can we nonetheless name him that?) has simply gone 2-4-2 which equates to birdie-birdie-birdie at 7, 8 and 9 to show in 32. The flurry of pink circles on his card has taken DeChambeau to tied eleventh, six again.

Harrington matches Cantlay’s low round of the day after tapping in for a 3-under 67. Great work from final 12 months’s Seniors US Open winner, who’s at present tied twenty fifth.

Meanwhile, Kim misses the inexperienced together with his method at 13 and might’t stand up and down so the ahead momentum halts and ideas of one other 62 are actually most likely fanciful. Back to -6 for the day and -5 general.

Sam Burns had a gap in a single on Thursday and provides one other eagle right here at 6 after holing out from the green. It elevates him to tied twelfth. By the way in which, when did he develop that unusual clump of hair that 80s/90s/00s/10s/20s American golfers have protruding of the again of their caps?

Kim isn’t a giant hitter – he ranks 107th out of 198 in Driving Distance on the PGA Tour – however the Korean has pumped one 307 yards down the thirteenth fairway. It’s a beast of a par 4 so nonetheless one other 212 yards to go together with his method.

Hideki Matsuyama has simply bogeyed that exact same gap and it follows one other dropped shot at 11 so the 2021 Masters winner has dropped eight off the tempo having briefly poked his nostril inside the highest 10. Elsewhere, a two-putt birdie at 8, his first swish from simply off thre inexperienced, takes Viktor Hovland to -2 for the day. The Norwegian is twelfth and 7 again so nonetheless must step on the gasoline.

Tom Kim has one other birdie take a look at 12 however he blasts his 27-foot right-to-lefter by way of the break and has some cleansing up work to do for par. It’s not an issue and he stays 7-under for the day, -6 general and tied for sixth alongside Dustin Johnson (11.18pm) and Min Woo Lee (11.07pm), who tee off within the subsequent hour thank god.

Let’s take a look at the very best Saturday rounds to date and what influence they’ve made. The finest so far is Cantlay’s 67 though it wasn’t fairly sufficient to take him inside the highest 20.

67 Patrick Cantlay -1 (twenty third)
68 Shane Lowry Evs (thirty first)
68 Russell Henley Evs (thirty first)
69 Ryan Fox +1 (forty third)
70 Jon Rahm +2 (51st)
70 Tommy Fleetwood +2 (51st)

Still over an hour to go earlier than the final two-ball and through Matt’s stint I’ve been desirous about doable walk-on music. Look, it’s been a protracted day. So, as we’re in LA and two of the primary protagonists are Californians with no main win, how about The Doors’ ‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)‘? That reminds of the stat that 73% of teenagers who visit Jim Morrison’s grave in Paris can’t title greater than 4 Doors songs. I’ve made that up however it appears about proper.

Rory McIlroy says his go-to music is hip-hop, dance, home and 60s pysch. One of these isn’t true. Given that he stated it was time to consider himself slightly than preventing futile wars for the PGA Tour, let’s go along with ‘Me Myself and I’ by De La Soul.

Wyndham Clark? As he’s within the ultimate group and has the prospect to tug away from the pack…

The teeny weeny fifteenth gap is taking part in simply 81 yards making it the shortest gap in US Open historical past. But it’s no doddle and many have been flummoxed and failed to seek out the inexperienced. Not Padraig Harrington although. He spins his wedge again to only inside six toes and knocks that one in. This is a few round by the three-time main winner. He eagled 8 and birdies at 12 and 15 put him 4-under for the day and -2 general. The 51-year-old provides one again at 16 although, his first blemish of the day, and drops from 14th to twenty third.

After going out in simply 29 blows, Tom Kim birdies 10 to go 7-under for the day. Amazing. Are Thursday’s record-breaking 62s underneath risk? Kim is now tied sixth on 6-under though he has some robust holes to return between now and the scorer’s hut.

Cheers Matt. To that, I’ll add one that can undoubtedly flummox Kevin and that prepare fanatic know-it-all fella from Eggheads. Who co-led after 54 holes of the 2006 US Open?

Answer: Phil Mickelson and… Kennie Ferrie!

A little bit pub quiz query: What do Joel Dahmen, Russell Henley and Richard Bland have in widespread?

Answer: They’ve been 36-hole co-leaders within the US Open within the final two years. The reality we don’t instantly bear in mind them is a reminder of simply how a lot Rickie Fowler nonetheless has to do. With that, I’ll hand you again to Dave.