Bryson DeChambeau fired off five birdies across 10 holes, seizing control of the US Open with a three-stroke advantage following the third round at challenging Pinehurst. Only eight golfers managed to stay under par after 54 holes, as the 7,548-yard course proved daunting with its elevated, dome-shaped greens and harsh waste areas. DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion and recent PGA Championship runner-up, bogeyed the fourth hole before launching into his birdie streak. Despite a double-bogey at the 16th, he recovered with a 12-foot birdie putt at the 17th and finished with a par at 18.

DeChambeau, reflecting on his performance, stated, 'Amazing. Made a lot of great putts. Pleased with how I struck it for the most part. Got to work on that just a little bit, but I feel pretty confident over the tee shots.' The American, aged 30, and one of eight LIV Golf-backed players to make the cut, concluded with a 67, placing him at seven-under 203 after three rounds.

He commented on his strategy, 'Trying to have boring golf. Middle of the greens never moves, so I am going to try and hit a lot of the greens, give myself some good looks on some holes and two-putt a lot.'

Rory McIlroy, aiming to end a decade-long major drought, and Matthieu Pavon, seeking to become the first French major winner since 1907, both shot 69s to tie for second at 206. Patrick Cantlay, ranked ninth, also remained three strokes behind after a 70, boosted by a 19-foot birdie putt at 17.

Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters winner, and Ludvig Aberg, ranked sixth, shared fifth place at 208. DeChambeau's birdie run included a six-foot putt at the fifth, a 12-foot putt at the seventh, a seven-foot putt at the 10th, and a 13-foot putt at the 11th.

Despite a setback at the 16th, DeChambeau's resilience shone through with a birdie at the 17th. McIlroy, meanwhile, faced challenges with bunkers and bogeys at the 15th and 17th, noting, 'Course is getting crispy. Some of the pin positions are pretty tricky.'

Pavon, despite a solid front nine, struggled with bogeys at the 11th and 16th. The course's difficulty was a common theme, with Pavon stating, 'The course is really showing its teeth so far. It's a tough one.'

Cantlay expressed optimism for the final round, 'I feel like I'm in a good spot for tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be a challenge again.' Aberg, despite a challenging day, remains a contender, while top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, 13 strokes behind, acknowledged another frustrating day on the greens.