U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy can beat Bryson DeChambeau, however how?

After posting a 1-under 69 on Saturday, Rory McIlroy enters the ultimate spherical at 4-under, trailing 54-hole chief Bryson DeChambeau by three strokes.

Despite the deficit, McIlroy feels assured that he can get the job completed and win his first main championship since 2014. So, what does McIlroy have to do to win the 124th U.S. Open?

First, he’ll want some assist from DeChambeau. If DeChambeau shoots something decrease than a 1-under 69, the championship is his. The former SMU Mustang has carded three straight rounds within the 60s, so for him to fireplace one other under-par rating shouldn’t be out of the query however moderately the likeliest of prospects.

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Still, DeChambeau has fought some left misses off the tee. He has additionally taken some aggressive traces, most of them paying off up to now. But one unhealthy bounce right here or one other unlucky bounce there can result in a double-bogey, which might deliver McIlroy and firm again into the fray.

Nonetheless, what can McIlroy management?

First, he must be affected person. If he goes flag searching on this course, Pinehurst No. 2 will clap again and chew him within the ass. Trying to push to make birdies and taking aggressive traces can result in bogies or worse rapidly, particularly with a few of these diabolical pins tucked within the corners of those ‘Turtleback’ greens.

With that stated, the third and fifth holes current early birdie alternatives. I believe he has to play these holes in 1-under, at a minimal. By the time he reaches the sixth tee, he must be at -5 general.

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He additionally must benefit from the par-5 tenth. Earlier within the week, I wrote about how par-5 scoring is crucial for McIlroy, one thing he has struggled with this season. But he should birdie each par-5s on Sunday to place strain on DeChambeau. He did not benefit from the par-5s final 12 months on the Los Angeles Country Club, even making a bogey on the 14th, an enormous cause why he misplaced by one. If you recall, Wyndham Clark birdied that par-5, due to his stellar 3-wood that discovered the inexperienced. That was the distinction.

I might additionally add the shortened par-4 thirteenth into the combination of holes McIlroy has to make a transfer on. Measuring solely 325 yards on Sunday, McIlroy ought to uncork his driver and try to get it up by the inexperienced. The pin is true within the center, however a big slope in entrance of it can ricochet pictures off the entrance. That false entrance begins a mere ft earlier than the cup, requiring beautiful precision with pitches and chips. McIlroy has the expertise to get it shut, as he did on Saturday at 13, however he might want to do this once more on Sunday.

Finally, McIlroy should make some putts. He is at present forty fifth in strokes gained placing whereas enjoying superbly from tee to inexperienced. If he can decide up a stroke on the sector together with his putter on Sunday, and maybe gap a long-range bomb, he has an excellent likelihood.

But all of it comes right down to DeChambeau. If DeChambeau shoots 72 and McIlroy shoots 68, there you could have it. Yet Bryson is the important thing piece to this puzzle, because it’s his championship to lose.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be certain to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.