Rory McIlroy has declared himself “one great round of golf away” from winning a fifth major as he starts Sunday's final round at the US Open just three shots off the lead.
The World No3 endured a tough third round at Brookline on Saturday but dogged out a 73 to stay in the hunt for his first major triumph since winning the 2014 US PGA.
McIlroy, who tees off at 7.12pm BST, is a shot off World No1 Scottie Scheffler, two behind Jon Rahm and three off joint leaders Matthew Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris.
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Spanish star Rahm had topped the leaderboard at five under heading into the final hole of his round only to double bogey and slip to three under, one shot off the leaders.
McIlroy told Sky Sports: “Jon obviously just struggled at the finish so it looked like I would be four back but now I’m three back off the lead.
“I’m maybe not in as good a position as I wanted to be, but I’m still right in the tournament.
“It’s been a long time, eight years since I’ve been able to win one of these things. I still remember the feeling and I want that feeling again.
“I need to just forget about today, go out and try to play a great round of golf. I’m one great round of golf away from doing it and that’s all I have to focus on.”
McIlroy got off to the worst possible start with three bogeys in his first half a dozen holes, but he dug deep with a number of gutsy pars on the back nine.
Asked by Sky reporter Henni Zuel if he “fought really hard to keep everything together”, McIlroy replied: “You would be correct, it was a really tough day.
“You’re just trying to make pars. The front nine, it was impossible to hit greens, just so many crosswinds and greens were getting firm.
“I was really just looking for some respite on some holes and I did well to birdie 11 and you’re grinding it out the last six holes and made some pars coming in.
“To finish under par for the tournament was a really good result. That round could have gotten away from me today and I didn’t let that happen. I'm still right in it.”
Seamus Power, who shot 70, is one over for the tournament and currently tied for 11th heading into today's final round.
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