Scottie Scheffler is relishing the opportunity to challenge for Grand Slam glory at the US Open after charging into contention with a third-round fightback at Shinnecock Hills.
Scheffler bounced back from an opening-round 72 to post a two-under 68 on Friday, leaving him seven strokes behind halfway leader Wyndham Clark, then recovered from a slow start to his third round to storm up the leaderboard.
The world No 1 fell further adrift after opening with back-to-back bogeys but responded with four birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine, including a spectacular chip-in from off the 14th green.
Scheffler remains in contention to claim US Open victory at Shinnecock Hills
Scheffler carded a third-round 69 despite bogeying the 17th and missing a glorious opportunity at the last, leaving him heading into the final day – his 30th birthday – on one under and well-placed to challenge for a fifth major title in as many seasons.
Victory would be Scheffler’s second PGA Tour win of the year and be the missing major required to become just the seventh male in history to complete the career Grand Slam, following on from Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
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Rory McIlroy shot a three-over 73 to slip down the US Open leaderboard during his third round at Shinnecock Hills
“We’ve been battling hard for a few days, and I did a good job of keeping myself in the tournament,” Scheffler said. “I’ll need a really nice round if I’m going to try and catch Wyndham.
“I’ve worked really hard for a long time to have a chance to win golf tournaments and to win major championships. I think understanding the moment and giving it your best shot is all part of the process.
“We want to be in these positions. This is why we practise and play, to have the opportunity to win golf tournaments, and that’s what tomorrow (Sunday) is. I have an opportunity to go out there and have a great round and give myself a chance to win the tournament.”
How Scheffler climbed back into Grand Slam contention
Scheffler had to lay up from thick grass at the par-four first before finding the sand with his third shot, eventually holing from 10 feet to scramble a bogey, then failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker to save par at the par-three next.
He showed little sign of his incoming progress when he was unable to take advantage of the par-five fifth and missed an eight-foot birdie attempt at the eighth, keeping him nine behind Clark, only to start his back nine with a birdie.
Scheffler mixed four birdies with three bogeys, in tough conditions, during the third round
Scheffler produced the loudest roar of the day when he completed a spectacular chip-in from off the 14th green, then rolled in from 12 feet at the 15th and found the par-five 16th green in two to leave a good eagle chance.
A two-putt birdie was cancelled out by a bogey at the par-three next, before Scheffler almost holed his approach into the last but had to settle for par after missing from four feet.
“I got off to a tough start,” Scheffler admitted. “I hit a decent drive there on one. I got the worst lie I’ve seen from anybody all week that you couldn’t even advance really with a wedge, so ended up making a really nice bogey.
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A look back at Scheffler’s best final-round moments in the majors
“Hit a couple of decent shots there on the second and made another bogey. Just did my best to try and stay patient. I made a really nice birdie there on the 10th – that was a hole where it’s really hard to hold that green, so it was really nice to kind of steal a shot there.
“Good par on 11. Definitely stole one with a pitch in there on 14, which gave me some momentum, and took advantage of a few opportunities late.”
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Scheffler discussed pre-tournament how he was ‘unmotivated’ by the potential of completing the career Grand Slam
Fleetwood eyes another Shinnecock Sunday charge
Tommy Fleetwood started the day alongside Scheffler and remained on level par with a third-round 70, leaving the Englishman likely requiring a similar finish to the final-round 63 he recorded during the 2018 contest at this venue.
“The tournament is not really in my control,” admitted Fleetwood, who finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka that year. “Yesterday I felt like I probably should have or could have got a couple more out of it [the round] and almost feel the same today.
Tommy Fleetwood has carded rounds of 70, 71 and 70 over the first three days
“I can’t complain about where I am. I’ve been playing really, really well. I’ve just got to go out there, shoot the best score I can, and see what happens. The tournament is in other people’s hands rather than mine, so I’m just going to go out there and do the best.
“It’s nice when you have good memories of a place, isn’t it? I have great shots to go off and good feelings, so I can draw on that. I’ve enjoyed battling with the golf course so far this week and looking forward to another shot at it.”
Rory McIlroy also went into the weekend on level par and was briefly within four of the lead after three consecutive birdies on the front nine, but the world No 2 posted five bogeys on a frustrating back nine to card a third-round 73.
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