Saturday at a major championship is commonly referred to as ‘moving day’. But at this year’s U.S. Open Championship, at the brutally difficult Merion, it was a day where stability was in order. It was a day that had it all; excitement, despair, frustration and elation, as the best players in the game jostled for position before the final round of the 113th edition of America’s national championship. In the end, we have been left with a leaderboard that promises so much. It has enticed us with the certainty of a quality leaderboard inundated with fantastic stories. There are few certainties in golf, let alone in a U.S. Open, but we are assured of a thrilling final round at historic Merion.
It promises golf fans worldwide so much, it is also a final round that may provide the ultimate fairytale victory for Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson, who will spend his 43rd birthday attempting to win the U.S. Open, holds the 54-hole lead at 1-under par. Sharing the 36-hole lead with Billy Horschel, Mickelson struggled early on; making bogeys at the 3rd and 5th. However, he remained composed, as he has done all week, and played Merion’s precarious back nine in a stunning 32 strokes. That saw Mickelson post a third round of 70, despite a closing bogey on the devilish 18th, which gives him a 1-under total of 209 and a one shot lead.
Mickelson reflected on Saturday: "It was a day that I thought you could get under par," said the four-time major champion. "And the fact that I was 2 over early, I had to be really patient not to force the issue and fight for a lot of pars out there. And take advantage of a few birdie opportunities.
"I thought that I played better again than the score dictated, but this is a really fun challenge. It is a hard challenge, but it is a lot of fun. Every shot requires such great focus because the penalty can come up and bite you so quickly here.
"It's just a very penalizing golf course. But there are birdie holes out here."
There are indeed, but he made birdie on one of the more unlikely holes. Standing on the 17th, Mickelson hit a stunning approach before making the subsequent birdie putt sending the 5,000 fans assembled around the green into raptures. Mickelson, who isn’t carrying a driver this week, reflected on the moment: "The 4?iron I hit was, I just stood there and admired it. It was one of the best shots I've ever hit"
It’s a shot that may aid Mickelson in his quest to finally win the United States Open. On a record five occasions, Phil Mickelson has been runner-up in his national championship. In 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009, he witnessed just one other play beat him in the U.S. Open. At the age of 43, this may be one of his final chances to exorcise those demons, and at last claim the trophy he dreamt of winning as a child.
On Father’s Day, his birthday, and with the opportunity to win the Championship, it could be an astonishingly special day for Phil, and the entire Mickelson family. But there is so much still to be done, which knows all too well, having come so close so often. Mickelson said: "It's got the makings to be something special but I still have to go out & perform"
He will have to perform, in order to contend with the difficulty of Merion, in addition to the talented group gathered just behind him.
Hunter Mahan will partner Mickelson in the final round, having shot a second consecutive round of 69 on Saturday. Mahan, who crucially leads the field in fairways hit, has won two World Golf Championships; so has the credentials to become a major champion that will be easier said than done for the 31-year-old.
However, the difficulty in winning a major can be illustrated by looking through the top of the leaderboard. So many talented and established names are inside the top fifteen, but just two of them have won a major; Mickelson and Charl Schwartzel. The South African, Schwartzel, winner of the 2011 Masters Tournament will also enter the final round just a shot off the lead, as he looks to join countrymen Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and Gary Player in winning the United States Open.
If there is a sentimental story that could match Mickelson’s, it belongs to Steve Stricker, who will also start a shot back of the lead. Stricker, who will partner Schwartzel, has incredibly played Merion’s extremely difficult holes in 1-under. An extraordinary achievement that has seen him post rounds of 71-69-70. At the age of 46, Stricker would be the oldest ever winner of the U.S. Open, and the second oldest winner of any major championship in history. For one of golf’s finest gentlemen, a victory for Stricker would be one of the game’s finest stories.
Stricker reflected on the strategy required for the final round: "I've got to play smart golf," said the 11-time winner on the PGA Tour, "It's a course where it's tough to come back from. So you have to play smart, you've got to take advantage of some of those shorter holes and give yourself some opportunities. You got putt well."
Few putt better than Stricker. His prowess with the putter is so famous, that Tiger Woods even asked him for a tip earlier in the year. Unfortunately for Woods, he will not be contending in this Championship alongside his friend Stricker. The 14-time major champion sunk to a 76 on Saturday, which sees him crash down, into a tie for 30th. It’s now been five years since Tiger won a major, and he will have Muirfield in sight as his major drought enters its sixth year.
However, at Merion on Sunday someone can claim a major of their own. It may even be Justin Rose or Luke Donald, who are hoping to become the first Englishman to win since Tony Jacklin in 1970. It may even be the exuberant Billy Horschel, who fought hard to remain right in contention. All three of these players are within just two shots of the lead.
Jason Day, who has become a perennial contender in major championships, is just a shot further back, while the popular Rickie Fowler, who shot a stunning 67 on Saturday, is in contention at +4.
It is such a varied and fascinating leaderboard. There are the sentimental stories of Mickelson and Stricker, in addition to those of Mahan, Rose and Donald, all players whose careers have consistently hinted that major glory would be in their future.
Now they all have a chance to finally win a U.S. Open, on a course which has been steeped in so much history. Merion has been brutally difficult, but someone will leave it with the utmost fondness as they add themselves to the lore of this beautiful old course.
Jones completed the Grand Slam at Merion, Hogan made his astonishing comeback, Trevino defeated Nicklaus, and Graham achieved near-perfection.
Someone will add themselves to the list of Merion champions, and whoever it will be; will have earned it. They will have survived the war of attrition that is faced against them. They will be the one who has controlled their golf ball best. Managed their strategy, and attitude to the utmost standard. Whoever passes these tests best will become the United States Open Champion.
One of these players will follow in Ben Hogan’s footsteps. What a day it promises to be.