US Open: McIlroy one back of leaders Fowler and Clark after 'stress-free' third round

Northern Irishman shoots one-under par to stay in contention for fifth major and first since 2014

Rory McIlroy shot 69 in the third round to move to 9-under par at the US Open, one shot behind the co-leaders. Getty

Rory McIlroy remains in contention to end his nine-year wait for a fifth major title after a "stress-free" third round at the US Open moved him to one shot of co-leaders Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark.

McIlroy is a four-time major winner but the last of those came at the 2014 PGA Championship, despite several chances over the years to add to his haul. Once again, the Northern Irishman is right in the mix at the top of the leaderboard at Los Angeles Country Club after three birdies and two bogeys to card a one-under 69 during a round in which was rarely in real trouble.

"The golf course definitely got a little bit trickier today than the first couple of days," McIlroy, the world No 3, said. "Felt like I played really smart, solid golf.

"Hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens. Sort of felt somewhat stress-free out there, if you can ever call golf at a US Open stress-free."

Overnight leader Fowler led playing partner Clark by two as they stood on the 18th tee at LACC.

Clark had just dropped a shot at the 17th, but his approach at the last threatened the pin before leaving him a six-foot birdie putt that he calmly rolled in.

Fowler, who had gone 12 holes without a bogey as a string of rivals faltered on the treacherous back nine, saw his 42-foot birdie putt skim the edge, but his four-footer for par coming back lipped out. Fowler signed for an even par 70 while Clark posted a one-under 69.

After two days of record scoring, the sun-baked LA Country Club North Course – hosting the championship for the first time – proved plenty capable of providing a classic US Open test of patience and nerve.

Fowler, who had a stunning 18 birdies over the first two rounds, couldn't match those fireworks, his three birdies including a 36-foot putt at the seventh and a 70-footer from off the green at 13.

Clark, a long-hitter who broke through for his first PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow last month, had grabbed a one-shot edge through nine holes before back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th.

Unable to get up and down from a greenside bunker at the par-three 11th, Clark then botched his first attempt to chip out of greenside rough at the 12th.

He rebounded with a birdie at 13, but it looked as if he'd be chasing on Sunday after his second shot at 17 found the barranca right of the green.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler was alone in fourth after a 68 for seven-under 203.

Scheffler, the 2022 Masters champion who started the day five adrift, picked up three strokes in the last two holes.

Coming off his fourth bogey of the day at the 16th, Scheffler holed out from 196 yards out in the fairway for eagle at the 17th then drilled a 22-foot birdie putt at the last.

"I was fighting all day today, trying to just get myself back in position," Scheffler said. "Just trying to make some birdies and avoid the bogeys.

"Today it seemed like every time I got off line I was really fighting for par – just fortunate to see that shot go in on 17 and then a nice birdie on 18 to kind of get myself back into it."

Scheffler was one stroke in front of fellow American Harris English, who was one off the lead after his fourth birdie of the day at the 10th but had four bogeys the rest of the way in a one-over 71.

Two-time major winner Dustin Johnson and 2021 Olympic champion Xander Schauffele shared sixth on five-under 205, one shot in front of Japanese qualifier Ryutaro Nagano, who posted a 68.

It was a further stroke back to reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith of Australia, former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and South Korean Tom Kim on 207.

Kim fired seven birdies in the first 10 holes to reach six-under for the tournament.

His front-nine 29 tied the US Open nine-hole scoring mark, but he had three bogeys coming in on the way to a four-under par 66.

"To be honest, that back nine is really hard," Kim said.