KeynoteUSA—
Bryson DeChambeau lay on his back, staring at the towering pine trees as a physical therapist examined him. He then picked himself up, dusted himself off and took control of the US Open.
North Carolina’s sweltering Pinehurst No. 2 course became a makeshift stage for DeChambeau’s show of big punches and fists on Saturday, as the American took a three-shot lead with a captivating performance in the third round.
LIV Golf’s in-form star made six birdies en route to a three-under 67, the second-best score of the round, to take a giant step towards a second US Open title, having claimed a six-for victory. hits. at Winged Foot Golf Club, New York in 2020.
“Amazing. I made a lot of great putts today, I can tell you that,” DeChambeau, who finished tied for sixth in the Masters and runner-up in the PGA Championship, told reporters.
“Tomorrow will be the same quote I’ve been saying all week: trying to play boring golf. Half the greens never move, so I’m going to try to hit a lot of the greens, look good on some holes and make a lot of two-putts.”
Few would have described DeChambeau’s golf as boring on Saturday. Tournament organizers issued an extreme heat warning before the tee box when temperatures surpassed the 90-degree Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) mark, but DeChambeau showed little interest in playing calmly.
Excited from the start, the Californian’s lively reactions to the shots wooed those behind the ropes. Once maligned by some golf fans, DeChambeau, whose personal YouTube channel continues to rack up subscribers, has embraced his newfound role as a crowd favorite.
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DeChambeau courted the crowd at Pinehurst.
After one of many booming tee boxes, the 30-year-old stopped his walk down the third fairway to sign autographs, but the more personal interaction would continue on the 13th tee box. When weighing which club to choose, DeChambeau begged jokingly told fans not to boo him as he opted not to drive the 368-yard par four.
“I can’t thank them enough,” DeChambeau responded when asked about the fan support. “It was a blessing. Man, they irritated me.”
“If we think back, three years ago, the picture was very different,” he later added. “I tried to show everyone who I was. I didn’t do it the right way and I could have done a lot of things better.
“I am lucky to have a great team around me that helps me move in the right direction with the content we are producing, social media and also a great outlook on life.
“That combination of things has allowed me not only to have a new perspective but also the opportunity to show myself in a different light and entertain the fans on the golf course.”
02:44 – Source: KeynoteUSA
Bryson DeChambeau’s unique approach to the game of golf
The hole was a perfect summary of DeChambeau’s box office day. After his tee shot landed in a bunker, the American nearly holed out with his fascinating backswing.
Even when a costly retreat off the green led to a double bogey on the 16th hole, DeChambeau responded immediately with a birdie on the next par three.
To top it all off, there was a mid-round physical therapy spot (allowed by the PGA Tour) in the woods before the 11th hole. The procedure was due to hip discomfort, DeChambeau said, adding that it had been a problem for “ a long time”.
“I’ve been playing really good golf lately and… trying to finish my house, so I haven’t really had time to rest like I’d like,” he said.
“I’ve been putting in a little bit of effort and as a result, that’s going to happen. But I have a great team around me to help me fix some things.”
Three shots behind in a three-way tie for second place, World No. 3 Rory McIlroy remains within striking distance of ending his 10-year wait for a fifth major title.
“I love the test that Pinehurst presents,” McIlroy told reporters. “You have to concentrate on every shot. “This is what a US Open should be like.”
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McIlroy is well positioned to challenge for a fifth major title.
The Northern Irishman’s 69 in the third round was imitated by Matthieu Pavon, a surprise Major contender who in January became the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour in 117 years.
“It’s been an extraordinary journey for me,” Pavón told reporters.
“I love competing here… I’m a pretty normal guy and it’s great to be here.”
McIlroy and Pavón are joined at four under by American Patrick Cantlay, who posted a par 70 as he seeks to add a major victory to his eight PGA Tour titles.
Scottie Scheffler’s struggles continued, with the world No. 1 posting a one-over 71 that slid him even further down the rankings and all but extinguished any hope of him fulfilling his pre-tournament favorite designation.
Having started with the same score on Thursday, the 27-year-old had posted an uncharacteristically testy figure en route to a second-round 74 that was enough to make the cut, and his discontent spread over the weekend despite of better performance.
“Another frustrating day,” Scheffler told reporters. “Today was a day where I thought I played much better than my score.
“I’m having a lot of trouble reading these greens. I had a lot of putts today and I felt like I hit them really well. “I looked up and they weren’t going the way I thought they were going.”
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Scheffler’s difficult week continued.
With five wins in eight starts heading into Pinehurst, it has been a season of historic dominance for Scheffler, but the reigning Masters champion made a rare piece of unwanted history after failing to birdie the final hole.
Having closed with a two-over-par 74 at last week’s Memorial Tournament, albeit with the caveat that he won the event, Scheffler’s third-round 71 marked the first time he shot four consecutive rounds over of par in a professional career that spans 120 PGA Tours. events.
Six shots behind the field, tied for ninth, Scheffler will need a big late push to extend his streak of three consecutive top-10 finishes at the Major.
“Golf is a mental torture chamber sometimes, especially the US Open,” he said.
“I wouldn’t use myself as a support for what’s good right now. Pretty mediocre at best right now,” she added.
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