Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Darren Fullerton

US Open 2022: Rory McIlroy sets "one great round" target heading into final round at Brookline

Rory McIlroy has declared himself “one great round of golf away” from winning a fifth major as he starts Sunday's final round at the US Open just three shots off the lead.

The World No3 endured a tough third round at Brookline on Saturday but dogged out a 73 to stay in the hunt for his first major triumph since winning the 2014 US PGA.

McIlroy, who tees off at 7.12pm BST, is a shot off World No1 Scottie Scheffler, two behind Jon Rahm and three off joint leaders Matthew Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris.

Read more: Shane Lowry fumes at USGA decision to water greens after missing cut at US Open

Spanish star Rahm had topped the leaderboard at five under heading into the final hole of his round only to double bogey and slip to three under, one shot off the leaders.

McIlroy told Sky Sports: “Jon obviously just struggled at the finish so it looked like I would be four back but now I’m three back off the lead.

“I’m maybe not in as good a position as I wanted to be, but I’m still right in the tournament.

“It’s been a long time, eight years since I’ve been able to win one of these things. I still remember the feeling and I want that feeling again.

“I need to just forget about today, go out and try to play a great round of golf. I’m one great round of golf away from doing it and that’s all I have to focus on.”

McIlroy got off to the worst possible start with three bogeys in his first half a dozen holes, but he dug deep with a number of gutsy pars on the back nine.

Asked by Sky reporter Henni Zuel if he “fought really hard to keep everything together”, McIlroy replied: “You would be correct, it was a really tough day.

“You’re just trying to make pars. The front nine, it was impossible to hit greens, just so many crosswinds and greens were getting firm.

“I was really just looking for some respite on some holes and I did well to birdie 11 and you’re grinding it out the last six holes and made some pars coming in.

“To finish under par for the tournament was a really good result. That round could have gotten away from me today and I didn’t let that happen. I'm still right in it.”

Seamus Power, who shot 70, is one over for the tournament and currently tied for 11th heading into today's final round.

Read more: Video captures heart warming video call between Rory McIlroy and his daughter Poppy after Canadian Open win

Read more: US Open 2022: Rory McIlroy completely loses his cool amid first-round charge

Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.