U.S. Open: Can Rory McIlroy chase Bryson DeChambeau down and win?

After posting a 1-under 69 on Saturday, Rory McIlroy enters the ultimate spherical at 4-under, trailing 54-hole chief Bryson DeChambeau by three strokes.

Regardless of the deficit, McIlroy feels assured that he can get the job carried out and win his first main championship since 2014. So, what does McIlroy have to do to win the 124th U.S. Open?

First, he’ll want some assist from DeChambeau. If DeChambeau shoots something decrease than a 1-under 69, the championship is his. The previous SMU Mustang has carded three straight rounds within the 60s, so for him to fireside one other under-par rating is just not out of the query however moderately the likeliest of potentialities.

Photograph by Alex Slitz/Getty Photographs

Nonetheless, DeChambeau has fought some left misses off the tee. He has additionally taken some aggressive traces, most of them paying off up to now. However one unhealthy bounce right here or one other unlucky bounce there can result in a double-bogey, which might carry McIlroy and firm again into the fray.

Nonetheless, what can McIlroy management?

First, he needs to be affected person. If he goes flag searching on this course, Pinehurst No. 2 will clap again and chunk him within the ass. Attempting to push to make birdies and taking aggressive traces can result in bogies or worse shortly, particularly with a few of these diabolical pins tucked within the corners of those ‘Turtleback’ greens.

With that mentioned, the third and fifth holes current early birdie alternatives. I feel he has to play these holes in 1-under, at a minimal. By the point he reaches the sixth tee, he must be at -5 general.

Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs

He additionally must reap the benefits of the par-5 tenth. Earlier within the week, I wrote about how par-5 scoring is crucial for McIlroy, one thing he has struggled with this season. However he should birdie each par-5s on Sunday to place stress on DeChambeau. He didn’t reap the benefits of the par-5s final yr on the Los Angeles Nation Membership, even making a bogey on the 14th, a giant motive why he misplaced by one. When you recall, Wyndham Clark birdied that par-5, due to his stellar 3-wood that discovered the inexperienced. That was the distinction.

I’d additionally add the shortened par-4 thirteenth into the combo of holes McIlroy has to make a transfer on. Measuring solely 325 yards on Sunday, McIlroy ought to uncork his driver and try to get it up by the inexperienced. The pin is true within the center, however a big slope in entrance of it can ricochet photographs off the entrance. That false entrance begins a mere ft earlier than the cup, requiring beautiful precision with pitches and chips. McIlroy has the expertise to get it shut, as he did on Saturday at 13, however he might want to try this once more on Sunday.

Lastly, McIlroy must make some putts. He’s presently forty fifth in strokes gained placing whereas enjoying superbly from tee to inexperienced. If he can choose up a stroke on the sector together with his putter on Sunday, and maybe gap a long-range bomb, he has an incredible probability.

But it surely all comes right down to DeChambeau. If DeChambeau shoots 72 and McIlroy shoots 68, there you might have it. But Bryson is the important thing piece to this puzzle, because it’s his championship to lose.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.