Coleader since day one, Russel Henley is now at -5 with Louis Oosthuizen and McKenzie Hughes after the 3rd round of the 121st US Open. Be careful, the cadors, including the defending champion, are just behind.
Regular contender for Major Tournament victory, Louis Oosthuizen landed a monstrous putt on the last hole of the Torrey Pines south course to rise among the three coleaders at -5 in total, in the third round of the US Open on Saturday. The South African figures in an astonishing top three, with the American Russell Henley and the Canadian Mackenzie Hughes.
The pressure is building up
Behind these three competitors, the pressure is nevertheless intensifying since two former winners of this Major have moved up the standings and are at two lengths, the defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, crowned in 2011.
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Oosthuizen was still at their height at the start of his last hole, on the course of Torrey Pines, when his wings suddenly unfurled on this ultimate par five, swallowed in three strokes including a superb putt of almost 16 meters.
“I was telling the ball to slow down a bit. It was finally a good trajectory and a good speed ”, commented the 18th world, winner of the British Open in 2010, author of three birdies but also four bogeys.
Second in the US Open in 2015, he is by far the most experienced of the top three, his two acolytes having never been so well placed on the eve of the decisive Sunday in a Grand Slam.
Hughes (67th in the world), who jumped six places, also managed an eagle, after a 19-meter long putt at 13, before placing a birdie on the last hole, out of the bunker.
“Goosebumps”
“I love it when the crowd goes wild when they see the ball go through it. It’s for those moments that we play, it gives me goosebumps ”, he said, referring to the presence of some 8,000 spectators.
Rusell Henley, 63rd in the world, did not make a shot as impressive as his two co-leaders, but he was able to remain strong enough (four birdies, four bogeys) to hang on to the chair he has occupied from the start.
The big question now is how this trio will approach the last 18 Sunday holes, knowing in particular the identity of the opponents who point their clubs behind.
“We will have to control the nerves”, Oosthuizen agreed, when Hughes, who only has one USPGA title, gleaned in 2016, was already conceding: “I know I’m going to be nervous. But I will try to take advantage of it and embrace the present moment ”.
Rory McIlroy would especially like him to kiss the trophy of this tournament a second time, ten years later. And he did what was necessary to give himself the opportunity, by making the best card of the day (67), thanks to five birdies (a bogey) including a spectacular at hole 12, on a chip of almost 30 meters .
“This is one of the best rounds of golf I have played in a long time”, welcomed the Northern Irishman, who gained 17 ranks.
Confident DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau joined him in 4th place, with a card of 68, three birdies without making any mistakes. A first for the American in a major round. “It’s awesome. It means my game is pretty decent. I gave myself a great chance for Sunday », he reacted.
Behind them, the Spaniard Jon Rahm (3rd world) had an average day (72), but remains in ambush in 6th place, in the company of the Americans Matthew Wolf and Scottie Scheffler, three lengths behind the leaders.
“Tomorrow, someone will have to make a quick start, I hope it will be me”, said Rahm, who contracted Covid-19 two weeks ago but is not feeling the adverse effects.
The world n ° 1 Dustin Johnson, who almost did not pass the cut on Friday, made a good comeback to 9th place (-1). Position shared with Collin Morikawa, also in progress.
If these top names can still hope to play spoilers on Sunday, others have definitely lost all hope, such as the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, winner of the last Masters.
Mid-term US Open co-leader Richard Bland was less successful on the greens of La Jolla and returned a scorecard (77) with … ten more strokes than that of the Eve.
Winner of the USPGA in May, Phil Mickelson also saw his dream of winning the only Major missing from his record take flight, by living another difficult day, notably marked by a double bogey and five bogeys (63rd, +7 ).
Classification after the 3rd round (par 71):
1. Mackenzie Hughes (CAN) -5 (208)
. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)
. Russell Henley (United States)
4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) -3 (210)
. Bryson DeChambeau (USA)
6. Scottie Scheffler -2 (211)
. Jon Rahm (ESP)
. Matthew Wolff (United States)
…etc
.
