Hopes Collin Morikawa had of reeling in Bryson DeChambeau are fading fast after leaving his putt from off the green well short of the flag.

His par putt dribbles left and he joins Corey Conners on the wrong side of par.

Not the start that Tyrrell Hatton was looking for.

The Englishman fails to get on the green in two and then comes up well short with his third leaving an 18-foot putt just to save par. An early shot frittered away.

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Just to add a little spice to proceedings, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay are paired together in the penultimate group for the first time since an infamous incident between the the Northern Irishman and the American's caddie Joe LaCava at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

If either were to pick a golfer he’d most like to beat on Sunday for a US Open title, you'd imagine the other would be close to top of their list.

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And when this pair - who could definitely not be classed as mates - tee off shortly it will feel a little like the sort of heavyweight slugfest we've been waiting for since Rocky Balboa took on Ivan Drago in the 1985 film Rocky IV.

Both of course will be looking to quickly close the three-shot gap to leader Bryson DeChambeau but this is definitely one to keep an eye on.

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No US Open winner this century has come from further than four shots back entering the final round.

If that record is to stay, then we're looking at someone from the top four.

But is this already Bryson DeChambeau's?

Thumbs up for yes, down if you think someone else will take the title.

I told you Tom Kim was a whirlwind.

Opening birdie followed by a second hole bogey.

Service resumed.

Rory McIlroy's only US Open triumph to date came in 2011 at Congressional.

And if he were to win this year, he would set the record for longest time between US Open victories.

That record is currently shared at 11 years by Hale Irwin (1979 at Inverness Club and 1990 at Medinah) and Julius Boros (1952 at The Northwood Club and 1963 at The Country Club).

Decent attempt from Collin Morikawa to get an opening birdie but his 16-foot attempt does not drop.

Stays at level par.

A bogey for playing partner Corey Conners. Eight off the lead is a long way back.

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We mentioned before that the most recent five major winners have all been American.

But did you also know the past five US Open winners have all done it for their first major - Gary Woodland 2019, Bryson DeChambeau 2020, Jon Rahm 2021, Matt Fitzpatrick 2022, Wyndham Clark 2023.

You're up, Patrick Cantlay.

A steely look of concentration as Collin Morikawa takes aim at the first green from 150 yards.

Nice judgement. He's killed it 15 feet from the flag and will hope he's packed his putter from yesterday.

He made 137 feet of putts on day three.

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Rory McIlroy enters the final round of the US Open inside the top 10 for the sixth year in a row. In fact he was third 12 months ago and went on to finish second. Can he go one better today?

Here's what he had to say after a one-under par 69 in the third round:"The course is getting crispy. Some of the pin positions are pretty tricky. Felt like a lot of them were cut on little crowns. There was a lot of uphill putts but then after the hole it went downhill, so pretty tricky to get the pace right. It caught me out a couple times.

"I love the test that Pinehurst is presenting, and you've got to focus and concentrate on every single shot out there. It's what a US Open should be like. It's obviously great to be in the mix.

"It tests your chipping. It tests your putting. It obviously tests your mental fortitude more than any other golf tournament.

"I'm pretty much in the same position that I was last year going into the final day. So familiar position, been here many times before, and hopefully tomorrow I produce the golf that's needed to go one better."

We enjoyed the travails of 21-year-old Tom Kim on Saturday whose front nine featured five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Two bogeys on the back derailed his charge towards the leaders.

He's started hot today, draining a 17-footer for birdie to move into the red.

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An American has won each of the last five major championships, dating back to the 2023 US PGA Championship (Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele).

And Bryson DeChambeau is surely a red-hot favourite to become number six to continue a streak that has not been seen since the early 1980s.

Back then Bill Rogers (1981 Open Championship), Larry Nelson (1981 PGA Championship), Craig Stadler (1982 Masters), Tom Watson (1982 U.S. Open and 1982 Open Championship) and Raymond Floyd (1982 PGA Championship) managed that feat before Seve Ballesteros broke the run at the 1983 Masters.

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The hottest player on the course yesterday?

That was Collin Morikawa, who heated up on the greens to card a four-under 66.

Afterwards, he was pretty bullish when asked his plans for Sunday: "To win."

He would match the biggest 54-hole comeback in US Open history - that of Arnold Palmer at Cherry Hills in 1960.

Finds the fairway at the first.

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Three shots seems a mountain to climb on such a tough golf course but that works both ways.

Ludvig Aberg dropped three on the 13th yesterday to tumble away from the lead - and that could happen to Bryson DeChambeau.

On this very course in 2005, Retief Goosen shipped a three-shot lead after 54 holes to lose to Michael Campbell.

And in 2016, Dustin Johnson was three behind Shane Lowry before motoring through to win.

Some hope for the chasing pack.

Image source, USGA

Here's our final round pin placements, where will it be won and lost today?

Here's when the main protagonists will be heading out tonight...

• 18:37 Corey Conners (Can), Collin Morikawa (US)
• 18:48 Tony Finau (US), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng)
• 18:59 Ludvig Aberg (Swe), Hideki Matsuyama (Jap)
• 19:10 Patrick Cantlay (US) Rory McIlroy (NI)
• 19:21 Matthieu Pavon (Fra) Bryson DeChambeau (US)

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Hello golf fans and welcome back to live coverage of the US Open from Pinehurst No.2, where Bryson DeChambeau is in pole position to win this for a second time.

He holds a three-shot lead from Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay and Matthieu Pavon, but this course has shown over the last three days that big scores can come out of nowhere.

No lead is safe, not until the final putt is rolled in, so make sure you keep it right here as we take you through what should be a thrilling Sunday at the US Open.