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Long, Interesting Day Sets Up Big Finish at Oakmont

oakmont leaderboard

A long, crazy day at the U.S. Open came to an end with a stacked leaderboard filled with intriguing characters. Many players, including the leaders will be back on the Oakmont Country Club course at 7:00am to finish their rounds and that makes this final round on Sunday even more interesting.

1 Irishman Shane Lowry has a two shot lead with four holes left in round three and he’s looking for his first major.  He’s hitting fairways and making putts.  A winning formula.

2 Web.com graduate Andrew Landry played U.S. Open style golf in his third round. One bogey, one birdie,the rest pars and that has him in second place contending for a major win in his first major appearance. He looks like he has been here before.

T3 Lee Westwood actually had the lead early before a few bogeys dropped him back. The 43 year old has been in the major mix numerous times before and a win here would cap a stellar career for the Englishman. He has nine top three finishes in majors.

T3 Sergio Garcia missed three short putts early in his third round or he may be leading the Open. Sergio like, Westwood has been here before and a win here would lift the burden of never capturing a major.

T3 Dustin Johnson looked to be in control with mammoth drives and solid wedges into those difficult greens. But some less than stellar approaches and a putter that burned edge after edge dropped him back from -5 to -2. He has eleven top ten finishes in majors.

6 Branden Grace was in the mix at Chambers Bay until he bounced one toward the train tracks. A back nine 33 which included two late birdies gave him a 66, tied for low round of the day and only four back of the lead.

7 Scott Piercy started the day two back of Johnson’s lead but may have let the moment get to him. He opened double bogey, bogey before he settled down.

T8  Jason Day started the fireworks early in the third round with four birdies in his first five holes as the world number one started his charge. He cooled off as he also burned the edges of the cup but finished with the low round of 66.  Who can count out Day who is just six shots back.

Bryson DeChambeau, Zach Johnson and Daniel Summerhays are tied with Day, six shots back and if the leaders back up could all make a run.

Oakmont is sure to be at its torturous best on Sunday as the USGA exacts its last measure of pain form those fortunate enough to be in the hunt for the 116th U.S. Open Championship.

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