Saturday at Oakmont delivered subtle drama, with momentum shifting not through heroics but through patience and precision, as only a few players managed to gain ground.
Sam Burns holds a slender one‑stroke advantage after a composed 1‑under 69, moving to -4 through 54 holes. Behind him, J.J. Spaun and Adam Scott are tied at -3, while Viktor Hovland is the only other under‑par golfer at -1.
Burns’ round was a masterclass in consistency–par after par with a few well‑timed birdies, especially the decisive one on the 17th, leaving him alone atop the leaderboard heading into Round 4 on Sunday.
Burns’ Iron Play & Competition
Though not overpowering off the tee–ranking near the bottom in strokes gained off the tee–Burns excels in approach shots and putting. NBC highlights he’s “third in the field in strokes gained on approach,” and has avoided any costly three‑putts all week.
His par‑save on 14 and approach shot on 13 helped define his day, and carried him to the clubhouse lead.
Adam Scott, no stranger to major pressure, shot a stellar 3‑under 67–his best round of the tournament, and will tee off with Burns in tomorrow’s final pairing.
Scott’s impressive back‑to‑back birdies on 13 and 14 demonstrated his mental and physical control late in the round–evidence of a player still very much in the hunt.
Meanwhile, J.J. Spaun mirrored Burns’ 69, but slipped one stroke when he bogeyed the final hole. Spaun will join Hovland in the penultimate group on Sunday.
Hovland delivered a tense but electrifying even‑par 70, staying within striking distance at -1. His highlight? A breathtaking recovery from the rough on No. 17 to a few feet. Terry Gannon called it a shot “that makes you believe it could be your year.”
Carlos Ortiz posted a 67 to get back to even par, positioning himself as a potential sleeper pick. Not far behind, Tyrrell Hatton (+1) and Thriston Lawrence (+1) occupy spots within three strokes, ensuring the leaderboard remains tightly contested.
Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth had a rough outing–Koepka at +5 and Spieth at +6 and harming his chances with a four‑putt triple bogey on hole 15–confirming the unforgiving nature of Oakmont.
NBC’s Soundbites & Analysis
NBC’s commentary team offered sharp insights throughout the third round, capturing the tension and emerging narratives at Oakmont. Dan Hicks remarked that Burns “answered a lot of questions about himself today, but tomorrow will be the biggest day of his career,” underscoring the significance of Burns’ composure under major championship pressure.
Smylie Kaufman focused on Scott, observing that it really seems like physically and mentally that Adam Scott is in complete control of his game and his mind,” a testament to the veteran’s poise during a brilliant 67. Perhaps the most memorable comment came from Terry Gannon, reflecting on Hovland’s gutsy recovery shot on the 17th hole: “If he were to go on to win tomorrow, remember that shot today.”
Rory’s Fire Boils Over
Rory McIlroy’s Round 3 at Oakmont was as much a display of emotion as it was of golf–his visible frustration quickly became a talking point. NBC cameras captured several tense moments, most notably early in his round when he flung an iron into the air after a mis-hit approach.
His ire reached new heights on the 17th tee. After a poor drive, he smashed a tee marker apart using his driver in plain sight of the gallery.
Off the course, McIlroy admitted to feeling “flat” following his Masters triumph–quantifying a lingering lack of motivation that’s affected his swing and mindset through Oakmont.
He also acknowledged taking aim at the media, skipping interviews after earlier rounds, declaring he had “earned the right” to sidestep reporters–his frustration partly tied to how his nonconforming driver was covered during the PGA Championship.
Despite shooting 4‑over 74 in Round 3, McIlroy didn’t sugarcoat the experience, calling it “pretty average” and openly expressing his desire simply to complete his round on Sunday and leave. Another sign of how mentally drained he felt.
At +10 and 13 strokes behind the leader, McIlroy remains in contention by the numbers. However, in order to mount any kind of comeback, he’ll need to find a way to steady both his nerves and tempo under Oakmont’s unrelenting pressure.
Cracks in Composure
While McIlroy’s emotional outbursts drew the most attention, even typically unflappable players showed signs of strain. Scottie Scheffler, known for his calm demeanor, let emotions show after a poor tee shot, “gently slamming his driver” into the turf in a rare display of visible frustration.
This comes after cameras captured him visibly animated during a post-Round 2 session with longtime coach Randy Smith, gesturing intensely and trading sharp words while working through swing issues on the practice range.
Scheffler downplayed the episode afterward, explaining that honest feedback is part of what makes their partnership successful. “You look at something like yesterday, like me getting frustrated on the range with my coach Randy…and it’s just one of those deals,” Scheffler said.
“When you have the great relationships with people, they’re able to pick you up when you need to be picked up, and then they’re there to kind of keep you in line when things are not going the way they should be and if your attitude’s a little bit off.”
Scheffler’s stats remain solid by most metrics. He finished Round 3 at +4 overall, tied for 11th. He’s currently first in strokes gained: tee to green, but outside the top 50 in strokes gained: putting–a stat that continues to define his week.
What to Watch on Sunday
Sunday’s final round at Oakmont is shaping up to deliver high drama and a potentially historic finish. Burns enters the day with a one-shot lead and the opportunity to claim his first major title.
If he succeeds, he would become the eighth first-time winner of the U.S. Open at Oakmont, joining a storied list that underscores the course’s unpredictable legacy.
Scott, now 44, stands just one shot back and is chasing his own place in history. A victory would make him the second-oldest U.S. Open champion ever, a feat that would add another chapter to his already decorated career.
The oldest U.S. Open champion in history is Hale Irwin, who won in 1990 at the age of 45 years and 15 days.
As mentioned before, Spaun and Hovland will tee off in the penultimate group, bringing both form and firepower to the mix–having shown resilience and flashes of brilliance through three grueling rounds already.
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