U.S. Open 2018 leaderboard: Who is leading after Round 3?
By Kyle Walton
The third round of the 2018 U.S. Open is in the books. Let’s take a moment and check out who leads and who made the most of moving day at Shinnecock Hills.
The day we all knew was coming finally arrived Saturday at Shinnecock Hills. With steady winds and sun bearing down on the greens scoring came at a premium during round three of the 2018 U.S. Open. In a familiar sight this week, some of the golf’s top competitors fell hard as the day wore on.
Fan favorite Rickie Fowler began the day 2-over and only six strokes off the lead. A triple bogey and three double bogeys dictated Fowler’s fall to 16-over with a round of 84. Despite Fowler’s fall perhaps the worst performance of the day belonged to Phil Mickelson’s 11-over including a two stroke penalty for intentionally putting a moving ball.
A remarkable sequence on Hole 13, where Phil Mickelson was assessed a two-stroke penalty for hitting a moving ball and ended up making a 10 on the hole. https://t.co/kx6ieYiOGR
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018
After two days of incredible play even Dustin Johnson found himself in trouble early on. Johnson began the day with a four shot lead but an opening nine holes at 6-over par dropped him quickly out of the lead. A birdie at the par three 11th hole stopped the bleeding briefly for Johnson who finished with a 7-over round of 77 and a share of the lead.
It's getting intense out at Shinnecock Hills. Here are some late afternoon highlights as the leaders make the turn. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Q6486MTilw
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018
Here are the Top-9 and other notables from the 2018 U.S. Open leaderboard following round two.
T1. Daniel Berger +3
T1. Tony Finau +3
T1. Dustin Johnson +3
T1. Brooks Koepka +3
5. Justin Rose +4
6. Henrik Stenson +5
T7. Kiradech Apibarnrat +6
T7. Patrick Reed +6
T7. Jim Furyk +6
T16. Zach Johnson +8
T16. Bryson DeChambeau +8
T16. Justin Thomas +8
T61. Rickie Fowler +16
T64. Phil Mickelson +17
This guy knows a thing or two about how to stay on top of the leader board during golf's ultimate test. Take it away, @BKoepka. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/mdylvEK7zg
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018
The 2017 U.S. Open champion, and training partner of Johnson, Brooks Koepka took a share of the lead early on and finished 2-over par for the day and also tied for first. Johnson and Koepka will be paired in the penultimate pairing for Sunday’s final round. Perpetual contenders Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson kept things close but the day undoubtedly belonged to the duo of Tony Finau and Daniel Berger.
Next: Tiger Woods misses cut at U.S. Open, what's next?
This guy knows a thing or two about how to stay on top of the leader board during golf's ultimate test. Take it away, @BKoepka. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/mdylvEK7zg
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018
Both Berger and Finau started off Saturday 11 strokes off of the lead and each ended their rounds with a 4-under 66 and tied for the U.S. Open lead. Playing just a few holes apart each made their share of bogeys but battled back to birdie six holes a piece. The pair began the day tied for 45th and now Finau and Berger will play the last 18 holes of the 2018 U.S. Open in the final pairing from Shinnecock Hills.