Rory McIlroy still confident he can have a say at Pebble Beach on Sunday

Rory McIlroy is far from ready to throw in the towel at the US Open, despite a third-round 70 leaving him five shots off the pace.
A disappointing bogey on the very first hole after he needed four shots to reach the green set the tone for what was to be a tricky day for McIlroy, though a birdie at the sixth did manage to erase the early damage.
Eight straight pars followed before McIlroy finally moved under par for his round with his second birdie of the day at the 15th, but he would give the shot back shortly after as a result of a poor tee shot at the penultimate hole.
Rory McIlroy drills a birdie on 15 to pull into solo 6th. #USOpen #LexusGolf pic.twitter.com/XEeVgbkYLQ
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2019
McIlroy was at least able to finish strongly on 18, as two superb shots gave him a two-putt from 20 feet for a closing birdie and a one-under-par 70.
It left him on six under par for the tournament, five behind leader Gary Woodland, with the likes of Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka lurking inbetween.
That’s going to be tough position to win from for McIlroy, but the Northern Irishman is coming off a big final round and a big win at last week’s RBC Canadian Open, and if he can put together a low round on Sunday while those ahead of him fail to do so, he could still walk away with an unlikely victory.
https://twitter.com/RoryLegion_GC/status/1139935215877611521
“It’s definitely not a golf course or a golf tournament where you can go chasing,” McIlroy admitted.
“But even though I’m still a few off the lead, it’s a wonderful opportunity for me to go out there and try to add to my major tally.
“I’ve been very pleased with how I’ve played all week. I felt for the most part today I did the right things and I need to do 18 more holes of that, but just get a little bit more out of the round tomorrow than I did today. I’m expecting the conditions to be similar, but I could see the course just getting a little firmer and a little faster and just being a touch trickier.”
Sunday’s final round will be a delicate balancing act for McIlroy. He has to try and make birdies, but he’s wary of coming out too aggressive on the opening holes.
“You can’t put yourself under pressure to have a crack at those holes, you’ve just got to let it happen,” he said.
“There are going to be a few decisions to be made. Those first seven holes you can get some momentum going and you can play them in three or four under, and that’s where the real meat of the golf course starts.
“I’m going to take it as it comes. Yes, I’d love to play those holes in a few under and get myself right in the thick of things, but I can’t put myself under pressure to do that because you’ve just got to let it happen.”
Latest
-
News
Sponsor Ralph Lauren drops Justin Thomas following homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three uttered the derogatory word towards himself after missing a putt at Kapalua last weekend.
-
News
Bryson DeChambeau keeping brain relaxed to avoid repeat of Masters misery
DeChambeau said his brain went into overdrive at Augusta National.
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.