US Open final round photos
- Published
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy leads the US Open by eight shots going into the final round. He starts his day by hitting a ball picker on the driving range
America's Matt Kuchar starts the final round on -4 but any hopes he has of surging up the leaderboard are dented by a double-bogey six on the third
Brandt Snedeker enjoys a profitable front nine with birdies on the first, the par-three seventh and par-five ninth to get to four under for the tournament
England's Lee Westwood starts the day nine shots behind McIlroy but immediately reduces that with a birdie on the first. Two pars follow and he's six under through three holes
However, McIlroy, who is playing in the group behind Westwood, responds with a birdie of his own at the first and sinks another on the fourth to go to -16 and open up a 10-shot lead
Australia's Jason Day birdies the par-five sixth - that's his seventh birdie in the last 24 holes, which have yielded no bogies - and he is six under
As the tension builds at Congressional some fans do their best to get the best view hoping to catch a glimpse of the leaders
I wonder who this cheerful fan is wanting to win. His smiles continue as Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy completes his front nine with two birdies and seven pars. Flawless
Yang is hanging in there like a terrier despite half a dozen players scrapping away for second spot. The Korean's opening nine holes include seven pars and a pair of birdies
One of the brightest competitors in Maryland this week has been Japan's 19-year-old Ryo Ishikawa and he doesn't disappoint on the last day with a lively 68 to finish on +2
Agony for YE Yang as the pressure mounts as his hopes of catching up on the clear leader recede. A birdie goes begging on the seventh but he hits back on the ninth and 10th with two more birdies
A stunning effort by American Kevin Chappell. A bogey on the third but the 24-year-old roars back with seven birdies to get him up to -6 and 10 off the lead
McIlroy is flying and aiming to be the second youngest major winner (post-war) at 22 years and 46 days and the youngest US Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923
Yang and McIlroy continue their battles with holes running out. The Korean overcame six shots to beat Tiger Woods in 200 and clawed back a 10-shot deficit to win the Korea Open last year. Is there still hope?
Westwood fails to get any momentum in his round after a decent start, a bogey on the par-five sixth all-but ending his challenge but a late birdie on 16 lifts him to a tie for third on six under
Yang meanwhile starts to get a little ragged on the closing holes, putting his hopes of finishing second in doubt. A wild tee shot and second on the 18th leaves him in the crowd and a third bogey on the back nine drops him to six under
Yang's slip proves costly as Day, who was second at the Masters in April, is in the clubhouse on eight under after a near flawless three-under-par 68
Nobody can get near McIlroy though and the Northern Irishman can even afford a couple of bogeys on the back nine as he wraps up his first major win by a staggering eight shots
"Happy Father's Day dad" - McIlroy junior embraces McIlroy senior, moments after his historic victory over the Blue Course at the Congressional Country Club in Maryland
All that's left to do is have the scorecard verified and collect the trophy before the party, both in Maryland and back in his native Northern Ireland, can really begin