US Open: Scotty Scheffler charges into Grand Slam race with impressive third round at Shinnecock Hills | golf news

Scottie Scheffler is relishing the chance to challenge for Grand Slam glory at the US Open after falling foul of a third-round clash at Shinnecock Hills.

Scheffler bounced back from an opening-round 72 to post a 2-under 68 on Friday, leaving him seven strokes clear of halfway leader Wyndham Clarke, then recovered from a slow start in his third round to storm the leaderboard.

The world No. 1 fell further behind 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 the 14th green.

Scheffler scored a third-round 69 despite bogeying the 17th and missing a glorious chance at the last, leaving him on the final day – his 30th birthday – one under and in good position to challenge for a fifth major title in as many seasons.

The victory would be Scheffler’s second PGA Tour win of the year and required missing a major to become just the seventh man in history to complete the career Grand Slam, following Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

“We’ve been battling hard for a few days, and I did a good job of holding my own in the tournament,” Scheffler said. “I’m going to need a really good round if I’m going to try to catch Windham.

“I’ve worked really hard for a long time to win golf tournaments and get a chance 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 this position. That’s why we practice and play, to have a chance to win the golf tournament, and tomorrow (Sunday) is it. I have a chance 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 on the first par-four before finding the sand with his third shot, eventually holed out from 10 feet to scratch a bogey, then failed to get up and down the greenside bunker to save par on the par-three.

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, leaving him nine behind Clarke, with only one birdie to start his back nine.

Scheffler produced the loudest roar of the day when he completed a spectacular chip-in from the 14th green, then rolled from 12 feet at the 15th and found the 16th green in two to give up a good eagle opportunity.

A two-putt birdie was canceled out by a bogey at the next-three, before Scheffler nearly blocked his approach but had to settle for par after missing from four feet.

“I got off to a rough start,” Scheffler admitted. “I had a decent drive there. Got the worst lie I’ve seen from anybody all week that you can’t really get ahead with a wedge, so make a really nice bogey.

“Hit a couple of decent shots there in the second and made another bogey. Just did my best to stay patient. I made a really nice birdie there on the 10th – it’s a hole where the green is really hard to hold, so it was really nice to steal a shot there.

“Good performance on 11. Definitely stole one with a pitch on 14, which gave me some momentum and took advantage of a few opportunities late.”

Fleetwood eyes another Shinnecock Sunday charge

Tommy Fleetwood started the day with Scheffler and tied for third round 70, needing a finish similar to the final round 63 he recorded during the 2018 competition at this venue.

“The tournament is not really under my control,” admitted Fleetwood, who finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka that year. “Yesterday I felt like I probably should have or could have gotten a couple more out of it (rounds) and I feel pretty much the same today.

“I can’t complain about where I’m at. I’ve played really, really well. I’ve just got to go out there, shoot my best score and see what happens. The tournament is in other hands than me, so I’m going to go out there and do my best.

“It is It’s nice when a place has good memories, right? I have great shots and good feel, so I can draw on that. I’ve enjoyed battling the golf course so far this week and look forward to another shot at it.”

Rory McIlroy also went into the weekend at level par and was briefly within four of the lead after making three consecutive birdies on the front nine, but the world No. 2 posted a disappointing third-round 73 with five bogeys on the back nine.

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