Who can catch Bryson DeChambeau? We rank the 7 U.S. Open contenders

PINEHURST, N.C. — Tony Finau putted right into a bunker. Bryson DeChambeau made a birdie, had his physio work on his hips within the Pinehurst pine straw instantly after, after which made one other birdie. Ludvig Aberg barely missed a fairway all week, then began lacking some in bunches, and then made a triple bogey and tumbled down the leaderboard.

Oh, and Rory McIlroy performed nicely once more, and he’s in rivalry to snap a prolonged main drought.

The third spherical of the 2024 U.S. Open had all of it, however the man on the prime is DeChambeau, who shot a three-under 67 on Saturday at Pinehurst No. 2 and sits at seven beneath after 54 holes, three away from a trio of contenders. DeChambeau, whose solely different main championship got here in 2020, when he won the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, will now attempt to examine off main No. 2 come Sunday.

However who’re his greatest threats? Let’s (subjectively) rank the contenders, which for this train will include the seven different gamers beneath par.

7. Ludvig Aberg (2 beneath, 5 again)

Aberg led or was tied for the lead for a lot of the entrance 9 on Saturday, however what was basically a three-chip thirteenth gap led to a disastrous triple bogey. He’s been glorious almost in every single place this week — 2nd SG: Off the tee; ninth SG: Strategy; and 4th SG: Placing — however he’s misplaced strokes to the sector across the greens (-2.923). Scrambling is essential at Pinehurst No. 2, and Aberg hasn’t performed it nicely sufficient to remain on prime of the leaderboard.

6. Tony Finau (1 beneath, 6 again)

Finau has 10 prime 10s in 32 profession majors, however none within the final three years. There’s a superb likelihood he’ll get one come Sunday, however how far can he climb? He’s performed just about all the pieces nicely this week, particularly off the tee and into the inexperienced. However a bogey-triple bogey stretch on the again 9 Saturday may need dropped him too far out of rivalry to win.

5. Tyrrell Hatton (1 beneath, 6 again)

The sleeper of this group. He’s one beneath and has a number of work to do, however he’s additionally six off the lead and might play a little bit free and aggressive. Right here’s predicting one of many sport’s prime putters begins robust and information his finest main end ever.

4. Patrick Cantlay (4 beneath, 3 again)

You recognize the drill right here. Twenty-nine main begins and simply 4 prime 10s, and just one (a T3 on the 2019 PGA) higher than a T8. He’ll virtually definitely declare one other prime 10 on Sunday, however even the recent putter he’s been driving this week may not be sufficient to topple DeChambeau.

3. Hideki Matsuyama (2 beneath, 5 again)

Matsuyama snuck up the leaderboard with a two-under again 9 on Saturday, which might have been even higher if not for a bogey on 18. One of many sport’s finest ball-strikers will get himself in place to make birdies come Sunday, however beginning the day 5 again could be too large a gap.

2. Matthieu Pavon (4 beneath, 3 again)

Breaking information: Matthieu Pavon appears to be right here to remain. Overlook that he’s missed the reduce in his final two begins — he gained the Farmers earlier this 12 months and completed T12 on the Masters. And this week, at a tricky Pinehurst No. 2 monitor, he hasn’t pale. He’d be in even worse place if it weren’t for some nifty scrambling throughout Saturday’s third spherical. He’ll be within the closing pairing with DeChambeau, who’s gained the galleries all week lengthy. Will probably be a problem for certain.

1. Rory McIlroy (4 beneath, 3 again)

Effectively, do you assume he can do it? That is McIlroy’s thirty seventh main since he gained his final, the 2014 PGA Championship. He has three pictures to make up and can play within the penultimate pairing forward of DeChambeau and Pavon. Nobody has been higher tee-to-green this week, and there could be some added motivation since he’s paired with Cantlay, a duo that has some history. Will that assist McIlroy? Will he even give it some thought? Can he catch DeChambeau? Will DeChambeau come again to him? We will’t wait to seek out out.

Josh Berhow

Golf.com Editor

As GOLF.com’s managing editor, Berhow handles the day-to-day and long-term planning of one of many sport’s most-read information and repair web sites. He spends most of his days writing, modifying, planning and questioning if he’ll ever break 80. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF.com in 2015, he labored at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State College in Mankato, Minn., he resides within the Twin Cities together with his spouse and two children. You may attain him at [email protected].