America’s Sam Burns maintained his slender overnight lead but the field closed in after a terrific finish to the third round at the US Open.
The 28-year-old world number 22 carded three birdies and two bogeys in his one-under 69 to move to four under par.
Playing partner JJ Spaun was level with Burns for much of the round but bogeyed the final hole to stay one shot back.
Alongside Spaun at three under par, 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott made a decisive move on the back nine to stake his claim for a second major title at 44 years old.
The only player in the top 10 to have previously won one of golf’s biggest four tournaments, the Australian birdied the 13th and 14th holes before draining a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th to briefly tie the lead.
His round of three-under 67 was joint best in the field – alongside Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz who improved to level par – and earned him a spot in the final group on Sunday.
Norway’s Viktor Hovland remains a threat. He hit two trees and a flagstick on his way to a level-par 70 and produced a wondrous shot out of the rough on 17 to find a bonus birdie.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre both impressed in their search for a first major title and are at one over and three over par respectively.
World number one Scottie Scheffler carded his best round of the week, a level-par 70, but is eight shots off the lead, while Rory McIlroy hit a 74 to fall to 10 over.
More to follow.
