Bryson DeChambeau (-7) is the absolute leader of the US Open with 18 holes to go. The golfer from California has subjected the toughest version of Pinehurst’s No.2 course to a sensational round of 67 shots, starting in the star match. Only Collin Morikawa (PAR) has made fewer shots today at the sanctuary of North Carolina (66). Thus, the 2020 US Open champion at Winged Foot will start this Sunday with a three-shot lead over Matthieu Pavon, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay, all of them at -4.
It is true that 18 holes in a US Open and with a Pinehurst that is drying up at a forced pace give a lot, but it is not unreasonable to say that DeChambeau has one handle of the cup held with one hand and it will mainly depend on him to grab the second and lift it to the sky. Three shots are very few, but at the same time they are many when mistakes are the order of the day and birdies cost blood.
If he maintains the level he has shown the first three days both from the tee and on the greens, it seems a titanic task to dethrone him. DeChambeau is going through an extraordinary moment of form. He feels safe and confident. He is the first player in history to make three rounds under par in a US Open at Pinehurst and already adds seven consecutive in Majors below 70, the four from the PGA at Valhalla and the three from Pinehurst. If he made one more this Sunday, in addition to practically securing his victory, he would equal the all-time record for most consecutive rounds below 70 in the Majors, held ex aequo by Rickie Fowler, in 2014, and Greg Norman, in 1993.
DeChambeau is no joke when he gets ahead. On the contrary, he plays better and competes with even greater determination. The leader’s cape gives him powers. He has started from the first position on a Sunday in the PGA Tour five times and the balance is three victories and two second places, one of them going to a tiebreak. His greatest virtue in this US Open is that he makes more birdies than anyone else, so mistakes just worry him. He feels he has a margin. A good example was the double bogey he made on the 16th after missing his approach from the front of the green. The response was a stratospheric shot on the 17th and a sensational birdie.
Bryson has it in his hand after a round in which he has challenged the very Tiger Woods. His prophecy said that no one throughout the tournament would improve Thursday’s lead, set at -5. Well, DeChambeau has been the only one who has dared to contradict the genius.
It is true that there is a good group of pursuers behind. The most reliable, by history and curriculum, is Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman is playing very well. From tee to green he is very reliable and he is tuned in on the greens. He is lacking a certain birdie ability. His mistakes are minimal, but it seems that tomorrow he will need a small gear change. Never lose sight of Patrick Cantlay, even though he has not yet won a Major, and the big question is Matthieu Pavon, a player who has so far proven to be made of steel, like that anthological par he has taken out on the 13th after missing the fairway, but tomorrow is a Major Sunday and we will have to see how he responds.
The deck of candidates for victory seems to stop here, at these first four. Of course, if Matsuyama and Aberg, both with two under par in total, have options tomorrow, it will be because DeChambeau has opened the door to everyone. The Swede, by the way, has handled himself very well this Saturday until the cruel triple bogey of the 13th, where he has dedicated himself to playing ping pong around the green. He has fulfilled the other prophecy of Tiger.
There are eight players under par at Pinehurst. The USGA is nailing it. Surely tomorrow the figure will be four or five, at most. More show. And Sergio García (+1) and David Puig (+3), waiting hidden in a trench to hunt down a bigger prize tomorrow. They have it within reach.
