US Open: Scheffler and Rahm poised to strike ahead of epic final round in Boston

Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick share lead

We tipped Will Zalatoris and Matthew Fitzpatrick to contend for US Open glory this week and both are tied for the lead with a round to go at Brookline.

They head the field on four-under par after an attritional third round at The Country Club, where according to statistics guru Justin Ray, the field scoring average jumped 1.54 strokes from round two to round three, the fourth-highest such escalation in US Open history.

Fitzpatrick , the 4.5 favourite who won the US Amateur here in 2013, is bidding to become the first player ever from outside the United States to capture both the US Amateur and the US Open titles.

Englishman can win first Major

He’s added considerable speed to his swing over the past three years and coupled with his superb iron game and all round short game talent, we’re tipping him to make his first US win a Major.

“I think I didn't have my A-game that day, and still just missed the playoff by one or two shots,” Fitzpatrick said of last month’s US PGA, where he and Zalatoris (5) were chasing Mito Pareira heading into the final round.

Zalatoris only lost to Justin Thomas in a playoff, but Fitzpatrick has a point to prove after fading to tied fifth at South Hills after a closing 73.

“I think if I played anything like my A-game, B-game, whatever, I would have been in even better contention,” he said of Tulsa.

“For me I think taking that away from it, knowing that I can play better than I did and where I finished definitely brought into this week as well as, obviously, having great experiences here before.”

Zalatoris is a wonderful ball-striker but his putting, though much improved, remains a weakness and that could be crucial in an event like the US Open.

Defending champion Jon Rahm is only one shot off the lead heading into the final round at Brookline

Rahm and Scheffler huge threats

Defending champion Jon Rahm (5.5) is bidding to retain the title and while he double-bogeyed the 18th last night, he’s lurking dangerously just a shot off the pace after a 71.

The last 23 winners were within four shots of the lead entering the final round, which bodes well for the seven immediate pursuers.

Keegan Bradley is tied for third, just two shots off the pace alongside Canada’s Adam Hadwin and world No1 Scottie Scheffler (8), who got to six-under through eight holes yesterday before hitting a bad patch early on the back nine.

We’d fancy the Masters champion to get the job done given his Midas touch this year ahead of Bradley and the inexperiences Hadwin.

McIlroy still in with a shout

However, Rory McIlroy is tied for seventh with Joel Dahmen and Sam Burns, just three shots off the pace on one-under. The Holywood star struggled in the wind yesterday but single-putted eight of the last nine greens to salvage a 73 and remain in the hunt.

The four-time major winner leads the field in strokes gained putting this week but while he will likely need to shoot 68 or better to win, he has the form and the putting to get the job done.

“It all evened out at the end of the day, but I'm sort of going home thinking that I held this round together when it could have got away from me quickly,” he said.

Pleased he’s now got the putting game to keep in touch when he’s struggling, he knows it will take some outstanding golf on Sunday to win. “I mean, 67 from Will out there today is unbelievable,” he said. “Such a good score. 68 from Fitz as well. I think depending on the conditions tomorrow, that's what it's going to take.

“From me it's going to take something like that to get the job done, but as we've seen today, things can change so quickly. I certainly thought I was going to be a few shots further back than I was at the end of the day, but Jon struggled there coming in. Even though it was such a tough day and I feel like I battled well and whatever, to still only be three back going into tomorrow I feel is a good thing for me.”

As for an outsider, Burns (22) has the game to get the job done and win for the fourth time since October.

Recommended bets

Matthew Fitzpatrick @ 4.5

Jon Rahm @ 5

Scottie Scheffler @ 8

Rory McIlroy @ 13.5

Sam Burns @ 22