Shane Lowry takes four stroke lead into US Open final round
Monday 20 June 2016 01:34, UK
Shane Lowry extended his US Open lead to four strokes after a bogey-free finish to his third round on Sunday morning.
The Irishman birdied two of his final five holes to close a five-under 65 and double his overnight advantage, with midway pacesetter Dustin Johnson and first round leader Andrew Landry his nearest challengers.
Just six players head in to the final round under par for the tournament, while nine of the top 11 players are chasing a maiden major title.
Holding a two-shot advantage, Lowry saved par at 14 before extending his lead by rolling in a 10-footer at the next.
The Irishman briefly found himself four clear when Landry opened with back-to-back blemishes, only for Johnson to cut that gap to three by draining a long-range putt at the 15th.
Johnson saw a 20-footer on 16 brush the edge and stay out, as Westwood finished with a run of pars to set the initial clubhouse target at two-under par.
Despite finding the rough off the 17th tee, Lowry got up and down to hole from 10 feet and go back to four strokes ahead, before making a par save from a similar distance at the last to close a five-under 65.
"I've never felt as comfortable on the course in my life," Lowry told Sky Sports. "I'm not sure it's going to be the same on the first tee this afternoon but I am where I am.
"I've got a four shot lead going in to the US Open and there is no place in the world I'd rather be today."
A par at the 18th completed a one-over 71 for Johnson, as Landry booked his spot in the final group by holing a 45-footer at the same hole to add to his birdie at the previous hole.
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Daniel Summerhays was the biggest mover of the morning, following a birdie at 14 with an eagle-two at the 17th to join Westwood five strokes back.
Two early bogeys saw Sergio Garcia slip back to level par alongside Scott Piercy, while Jason Day is eight off the pace after a strong finish to his third round on Saturday.
Watch the final round on Sunday from 4pm live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf
