Lowry adds 2 birdies and builds 4-shot lead at US Open

With the thunderstorm-delayed U.S. Open back on schedule after three days of hectic catch-up and marathon days, the United States Golf Association announce tee times for the final round, which will start at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT). We break down what needs to happen. Day has improved his greens in regulation percentage every round, the key to Oakmont, and he will need to continue that trend if he wants to make a historic run this Sunday.

Day produced an impressive four-under-66 in the third round, rallying from 45th into a tie for ninth at one over par at Oakmont Country Club.

He finished with a 6-foot par putt on the 18th and a pump of the fist. If he can get those to go in with confidence, and early, he might be on to something.

He picked up birdies on the 15th and 17th holes, the latter after an excellent chip to nine feet from heavy rough. Also, Garcia has to get off to a quick start, bucking the trend of making sloppy bogeys on the opening holes at Oakmont. Despite his low ranking, he’s excelled over the course of the week, setting himself up with a brilliant 66 on Day 1 and keeping things simple since.

Lowry bogeyed the eighth after finding sand off the tee but bounced back immediately to birdie the next from four feet and the 12th from half the distance to ensure he would end another long day in front.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry takes a four-shot lead into the final round of the US Open after completing his third round in a five-under-par 65 on Sunday.

Summerhays rode a hot putter in round two, and will need to stay aggressive with that club in particular to have a chance. No matter what happens, I just have to get up and play the next shot.

Sixth-ranked American Dustin Johnson, the tournament leader after 36 holes, was four strokes off the pace heading into the final round along with compatriot Andrew Landry, with England’s former world number one Lee Westwood a further stroke adrift. So his third time hitting the green, it actually stayed on the green. Of all the guys on this leaderboard, Westwood has the most experience in this position, so if he starts striking the ball like he’s capable of, watch out. He hit 15 greens in the second round and needed 33 putts.

Well, not exactly. But that’s how Sunday afternoon’s final round will unfold.

Also, Dustin has to take advantage of his length. He’s made just one birdie all week on the par-5s, and has yet to birdie the short but daunting par-4 17th.

Landry was more determined than ever not to go away.

A victory for Lowry on Sunday would make it 10 major titles for Irish golfers in the last 10 years after the successes of Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, although the 29-year-old from Offaly would be the first from the Republic of Ireland to win the US Open.

His numbers are staggering when you look at the way he’s played, but he has missed shots in spots you just can’t miss them, and he can’t afford to do that on Sunday.

Asked if he believed he could add a major to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational title he won a year ago, Lowry told Sky Sports 4: “I feel like my game’s good enough and there’s no reason I can’t do that if I play well this afternoon”.

As the leaders got going in sultry conditions, American Brooks Koepka was scorching Oakmont, picking up eight strokes in an eight-hole span that included holing out for an eagle at the 10th. I’ve been beating myself up over the last six months trying to get in this position.

A few minutes after Johnson made double bogey to fall back to 3 under, Westwood holed out his approach shot at No. 5 for an eagle-2 – the second eagle on a par 4 that he’s had this week – to join Johnson and Landry in the lead.