Image source, Getty Images

It's not just a US Open title on the line for Justin Rose.

If the 37-year-old can secure victory at Shinnecock Hills, and Dustin Johnson finishes worse than a two-way tie for second, he'll also take the world number one spot.

Should Rose finish second, and DJ place worse than solo 14th, he'll also nab the 'world's best' label.

And that would make him just the fourth Englishmen to do so, after Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.

He's on the first tee now. No pressure...

Masters champion Patrick Reed and Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat get their final rounds under way.

19:02: H Stenson (Swe), J Rose (Eng)

19:13: D Johnson (US), B Koepka (US)

19:24: T Finau (US), D Berger (US)

The Tommy Fleetwood express has hit a bump, and it comes in the shape of a bogey at the ninth.

Fleetwood left his approach short, and was then faced with a 30-foot putt for par.

The Englishman couldn't drain it, and he drops to six over heading to the back nine.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

But there was also the fans, vocal on every hole, who did nothing to quell Ian Poulter's frustration.

He said on Twitter: "Verbally abused on every hole does get a little old.. That’s not really golf either. Ryder Cup in 2024 COULD become a little silly, just like today was. @usopengolf @USGA Still we never hear the word SORRY."

Image source, Reuters

Officials watered the greens overnight and on Sunday morning in an effort to avoid a repeat of Saturday's fiasco.

A USGA statement said: "In preparation for today’s dry and windy conditions and to maintain a challenging yet fair US Open test, we applied appropriate levels of water to all putting greens last night and this morning for turf health and firmness.

"Similar to the preparation we took for round one, green speeds will be, on average, 10-12 inches slower than rounds two and three.

"We also adjusted some hole locations in a manner similar to what we did in round one, reviewing our initial selections and comparing them against our weather forecast and other agronomic data."

The last time Shinnecock Hills in New York state hosted the US Open in 2004, play had to be suspended during the final round to water the seventh green which had become unplayable.

USGA chief Mike Davis insisted before this year's tournament lessons had been learned but after Saturday's round admitted "there were some aspects of the set-up where we went too far".

It wasn't just Poulter who was left furious.

"Greens were unplayable, with unnecessary pin positions. USGA found a way to make us look like fools on the course. A pity they manage to destroy a beautiful golf course," tweeted Rafa Cabrera Bello.

"It's a bit of a lottery at times and it's a bit ridiculous at times but we know that. It seems to be the goal of the USGA otherwise they wouldn't keep doing this," added Henrik Stenson.

Image source, Getty Images

Moving swiftly on to another chunk of drama that played out after the third round, this one stars Ian Poulter...

"It got too tough in some areas. If we got a mulligan, we would have slowed the greens down this afternoon. We are confident we can slow the golf course down going into Sunday," said USGA chief Mike Davis.

That infuriated Poulter, who dropped to seven over par on Saturday.

"Is that an apology? You don't get mulligans in business at this level. How can this team keep doing this without consequences?, he said on Twitter.

Poulter added about his round: "It was brutally tough. Some of the putts were impossible. Some of the pin positions were impossible to get at, to even leave yourself a 25-foot uphill putt. They set it up like this for a reason. They want it brutally hard. It's a stern test."

Image source, BBC Sport

Post-round, Phil Mickelson was keen to maintain his image among his adoring fans, signing autographs and posing for numerous selfies before ignoring the gathered media and heading off to the sanctuary of the locker room.

Not a great show from the five-time major winner, who will face no more questions at this year's tournament.

Image source, Reuters

Where to start with all the drama?

How about with Phil Mickelson, who finishes his week with a one-under-par 69 for a total of 16 over. He won't forgot the 2018 US Open for a while and I doubt many others will either.

Plenty of cheers for Mickelson as he posted an eagle, four birdies and five bogeys.

But the American saved the biggest celebration for a scramble par save at the par-four 13th, which was the scene of his controversial two-stroke penalty during the third round.

Mickelson was into the long grass off the tee, into the bunker with his second, but played his wedge from the sand to inside five feet to salvage his four.

He threw his arms in the air as though he'd won his first US Open title. I wonder what the USGA think about good ol' Phil's celebration...

A second birdie of a bogey-free round for Matthew Fitzpatrick at the par-five fifth.

Simple putt from just outside of four feet for Fitzpatrick.

Up into a tie for eighth three shots off the lead.

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Talking of Tommy Fleetwood...

The Southport golfer is absolutely flying at Shinnecock Hills so far on Sunday, carding four birdies in his opening eight holes to climb to five over par - just two strokes off the lead.

It was very nearly a fifth for Fleetwood at eight, but he just left his birdie putt a tad short.

He is just two off the lead.

Image source, Reuters

Tight pin positions, coupled with greens which grew harder and faster as the wind and sun dried them out, limited scoring in the afternoon, with two-time major champion Zach Johnson, who had a two-over 72 to drop to eight over, suggesting the course had "surpassed" the limit of fairness and playability.

Dustin Johnson managed to hold on to a share of the lead, despite shooting seven over, while Koepka and Rose hung on in there with a 72 and 73, respectively.

Henrik Stenson, furious with the New York crowd, looked like crumbling but remained just two back come the close of play.

England's Tommy Fleetwood, though, endured his worst round of the week as he carded an eight-over-par 78 to drop six strokes off the lead.

So how did we get to a final day of a major where the leaders are heading out a three over par?

Well, the first two days at Shinnecock Hills were tough, but there were still scores to be had.

Dustin Johnson carded 69-67 to head into Saturday with a four-stroke lead, while Brooks Koepka's 66 on Friday put him in the mix and Ian Poulter was another one up there at one over par.

So to Saturday, and Daniel Berger and Tony Finau, having gone early, carded 66s that had them tied for 45th before the leaders headed out.

And then life became very difficult for those at the top...

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So after all that, as we head into the final day of the 2018 US Open, there is a four-way tie for the lead.

It's an all-American contingent of Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson and Daniel Berger at three over par.

Image source, EPA

But leading the chasing pack is an Englishman.

Justin Rose is just a stroke behind, with eyes on a second US Open title of his own...

Image source, Getty Images

Well, where to begin...?

There were more fall outs at Shinnecock Hills on Saturday than a week in Albert Square.

Phil Mickelson sparking moral outrage over whether he did or didn't break golfing etiquette. Ian Poulter firing daggers at the New York fans. Just about every player in the field furious at the USGA.

Shots dropped, the world's best flopped and others stropped as the third-round pin positions wreaked havoc.

So who will win on Sunday? That's anyone's guess...