McIlroy hoping for ‘spectacular’ final day at Chambers Bay
By Simon Lewis, Irish Examiner
Rory McIlroy admits he will need something spectacular in today's US Open final round if he is to add to his four major titles at Chambers Bay.
McIlroy shot his lowest round of the championship on Saturday night but his two birdie, two bogey level-par 70 could have been so much better if his putting had anywhere near matched his excellent ball-striking.
The world number-one and reigning Open and PGA champion should have signed for a 64 or 65 given the five birdie putts he missed from 14 feet and closer - as well as a missed par putt from 11 feet at the 11th.
It means he will start his final round four-over-par for the tournament, eight shots off the pace being set by the quartet of overnight leaders Jason Day, Branden Grace, Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth.
That is a mountain to climb as steep as the nearby volcano Mount Rainier and McIlroy knows if he is to scale the heights and win a second US Open of his career he will have to start holing the sort of putts he was missing throughout his third round on Saturday.
Asked if he could do anything from his early start that might just scare the leaders as they tee off late into the night Irish time, the 26-year-old replied: “Maybe. I'm plus four.... if I can go out there and try to get to even par for the tournament as quickly as possible you never know what can happen.
“I'll need something spectacular. If I can hit the ball like I did today and have one of my best every putting rounds, I still have a chance. We'll see how that materialises.”
Such was McIlroy's frustration with his performance on the much-maligned Chambers Bay greens that the Irishman celebrated his 12-foot par putt at the last with arms outstretched in an ironic gesture of a matador having defeated his bull.
He later explained he had told his caddie JP Fitzgerald how grateful he was to have already won a US Open, his first major title having come at Congressional in 2011.
“Every year the US Open is very frustrating, apart from 2011. Came off the green on the last there and I said to JP, I just said 'thank God I've got one of these'.
“Keep trying and keep going but give it a good go tomorrow. I'm glad my name is on the trophy at least once and I'll try to make it twice at some point,” said McIlroy.
