Three Players Lead the U. S. Open Heading Into the Final Round

Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, CA — June 19, 2021

Round 3 of a 4-day professional golf tournament is generally referred to as “moving day.” At the 2021 United States Open Golf Championship there was a considerable amount of movent at the top of the leaderboard. Some players traveled closer to the top, while others moved in the opposite direction.

Day 2 leaders Russell Henley and Richard Bland moved on divergent paths. Henly scrambled to an even-par 71 to stay at 5 under and secure a part of the lead. Bland got on the down escalator and could not get off. After two rounds in red numbers, he blew up in Round 3 with a 6 over par 77 ending up at +1, tied for 21st, and out of contention for the victory.

Louis Oosthuizen had one of the most interesting rounds of the day. He started Saturday a stoke out of the lead at 4 under par. A bogey on the first started the day in the wrong direction, he got that stroke back with a birdie on the 5th. Another bogey on the 7th hole and he finished the front nine at -3. Another bogey, birdie, bogey sequence followed on 10, 13, and 14. At -2, the tournament seemed to be slipping away. Oosthuizen birdied the par-3, 16th, then an eagle on 18 moved Louis into a tie for the lead heading into the final day.

Torrey Pines Golf Course has been reluctant to give up red numbers in the first 3 rounds of the Open Championship. The lowest score to this point in the tournament has been a 4 under par 67. Taking that into consideration, it is likely Sunday’s champion will come from the group of players sitting within four shots of the lead.

The Leaders

Russell Henley is tied for the lead for the third day in a row. Mackenzie Hughes took Bland’s place at the top of the leaderboard. After shooting an opening round of 73, Hughes has put together rounds of 67 and 68 to equal Henley’s and Oosthuizen’s score of 5 under.

Rory McIlroy moved into contention with one of those rounds of 67, he sits at 3 under heading into the final day. Bryson DeChambeau, whose rounds are often like riding a roller coaster, stepped off the carnival ride to record a 3-under score of 68. DeChambeau has played 67 rounds of major championship golf in his professional career, today was the first in which he did not record a bogey on the scorecard. He sits tied for 4th with McIlroy at -3.

Jon Rahm and Matthew Wolff moved in the wrong direction as they finished with over-par scores of 72 and 73 respectively. They are tied with Scottie Scheffler for 6th at 2 under.

The Followers

Five players, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Xander Schauffele, and Kevin Streelman, are 4 strokes back at 1 under par. it will take a low round of the tournament to move any of the 5 into contention for the win.

A 67 for Paul Casey moved him to even-par where he is tied with 6 other players. Including Ian Poulter, Francesco Molinari, Brooks Koepka, and Justin Thomas. Jordan Spieth and Martin Kaymer are in a group at +1. Bubba Watson followed his 67 on Friday with a Saturday round of 77 and sits at +3.

Sergio Garcia(+5), Hideki Matsuyama(+6), and Phil Mickelson(+7) will be playing out the final round early on Sunday.

Highlights

Leaderboard