Rory McIlroy lets the wind drop but looks concerned as he fires in his approach to the par-three 15th. He has every reason to be. That's miles too aggressive and flies through the green and by the looks of it he's got a wretched lie as well.

A diabolically hard shot coming up.

Image source, Getty Images

If you're going to be in the scrub, it helps if you're 340 yards down the hole, as Bryson DeChambeau is on 14, and he's able to muscle his ball forward towards the green - albeit still some 60 feet away.

Rory McIlroy's chops that up into the slope and will have a five footer for par, which he does without problem whatsoever.

Over to his right Patrick Cantlay is weighing up a 60-foot putt for birdie. He's that far down the green he's almost off my screen. That's not bad, it's in to around four feet and he tidies up nicely.

Much has been made about Bryson DeChambeau changing the head of his driver just before today's round, and while it really shouldn't make too much difference - he's found it tough to locate a fairway all day.

He's spent more time in the native area, scrub, sandy rough, whatever you want to call it than anywhere else - such as on 14 after again missing the fairway off the tee.

"Get in the hole" shouts one very optimistic fan stood in Rory McIlroy's shadow as the world number three lets rip.

He pulls his approach left of the green but it’s pin-high and in a pretty decent spot.

Wow, that's a weird old eagle attempt from Bryson DeChambeau as he almost looks like he came out of it early as he's terrified of hitting it long and down the huge slope.

There's no chance of that though as he tries to waft it onwards and it trickles on and on down the slope but pulls up just inches away.

Still, that's a birdie that cuts Rory McIlroy's lead to just one. Game on!

A nervy walk for Rory McIlroy to see what sort of lie he's got down there in the wasteland to left of the 14th fairway.

It's not bad. Lots of pine needles around but he can pick them up and move them as long as he doesn't disturb his ball.

Rory McIlroy's driver has been in fine working order all day....

But he's now two shots clear with five holes to play in the US Open as he attempts to end a near decade-long major drought, so of course he pulls his tee shot left into the native area.

I know there are legions of Rory McIlroy fans out there, but Bryson DeChambeau is not going anywhere folks..

The 13th is the driveable par four and you don't need to ask DeChambeau twice to go for these - as he spanks a three wood right at the flag 325 yards and it stuns into the slope and runs just 30 feet past the hole.

He's got that for an eagle to tie the lead...

Image source, Getty Images

Two thirds of the way round and all change at the top.

So are we now backing Rory McIlroy to get it done down the stretch?

Hit the thumbs for whether he's going to end his decade-long wait for a major.

That's good from Rory McIlroy, who sets up a another birdie opportunity with a deft chip that runs five feet past the flag. It's there. The Northern Irishman climbs into the outright lead and now has a couple of shots grace thanks to Bryson's struggles down the course.

Patrick Cantlay, who is attempting to win his first major in his 30th attempt, comes up short with his chip but knocks in the putt no bother. He's not going away.

No good! Bryson DeChambeau couldn't really get aggressive with that downhill slider that he had for par, and it just wanders past the right of the cup and with it goes a shot in his pursuit of the US Open.

The wire grass finally bites back at Bryson DeChambeau as a big lump of the stuff means he can only blast his ball out 70-odd yards down the fairway on 12 and leave a pitch of about the same distance left for his third.

It's a nice effort but still leaves 20 feet for par.

A blemish at the last for Russell Henley as he misses from a distance he has been making all round.

Still, a three-under 67 is enough to take him to one under par for the tournament and leapfrog Sam Burns.

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I think that was a smart play from Rory McIlroy. Took out all the danger. Clear thinking.

Rory McIlroy blasts through the 13th green. This hole is only playing 316 yards today and his ball is travelling. It smashes the stand at the back with such pace that it rolls back towards the green.

Patrick Cantlay finds himself in a similar position minus the game of wally.

Zane Scotland
Former European Tour player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's of that sort of length that you're not supposed to make and that can make it more comfortable for you.

Absolute display from Rory. He's made nearly everything today.

It's more of this native area for Bryson DeChambeau who misses yet another fairway off the 12th tee - he's hit just four of 10 fairways so far today.

But he's usually managed to pull a decent lie and it looks pretty clean again.

Here we go. Rory McIlroy drops in his third birdie in four holes. He has got his eye in and looks like he strongly fancies the job in hand now.

Patrick Cantlay misses a much shorter one for par and drops back to four under.

Rory McIlroy has putted a lot from around 20 feet this week and he'll face another on the 12th from that sort of range. Maybe a tad conservative there?

Patrick Cantlay is in the swale to the front right of the green with a wedge in hand. It's a little bump and run from the American which he chases in to five feet.