BROOKLINE, United States, June 19, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Defending champion Jon

Rahm, Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and four-time major winner Rory
McIlroy -- the world's three top-ranked players -- grinded out rounds
Saturday to stay in contention at the US Open.

Second-ranked Spaniard Rahm birdied three of the last five holes but hit into
bunkers on his first three shots at 18 for a double bogey to shoot one-over
par 71 and stand on three-under 207, one stroke behind co-leaders Will
Zalatoris of the United States and England's Matt Fitzpatrick after 54 holes
at The Country Club.

"I'm very content. I'm not going to lie. I have to consider that I have 18
holes and I'm only one shot back. That's the important thing," Rahm said.

"I know somebody behind is going to come out hot and is going to post a
score, and I know I'm going to have to play good and probably shoot in the
red numbers. That's my job."

Third-ranked McIlroy, with three bogeys and a short birdie putt miss in the
first six holes, salvaged a 73 to stand on 209, three adrift but within
reach.

"I'm sort of going home thinking that I held this round together when it
could have got away from me quickly," McIlroy said.

"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, to still only be three back
going into tomorrow I feel is a good thing for me."

World number one Scheffler, chasing his fifth title and second major of the
year, is primed for the mental and physical challenge of Sunday's final
round.

"The US Open is very taxing, mentally and physically. I think that's all part
of what makes this tournament so fun," he said.

"You're going to get tested all different kinds of ways, whether it be
physically, mentally, whatever it is. I think that's kind of the fun of it.

"If every golf tournament was like this, it would be in for a long season for
all of us. A few times a year I think it's a ton of fun."

Scheffler, trying to match Tiger Woods as the only world number ones to win
the US Open, would be the first to manage the US Open-Masters double since
Jordan Spieth in 2015 and just the seventh ever on a list that includes Tiger
Woods, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.

- 'I just have to do me' -

Rahm could become only the second non-US player to win consecutive US Opens
after Scotsman Willie Anderson took three from 1903-1905. He can't be worried
about his rivals.

"I just have to do me," Rahm said. "I can't control what the guys ahead or
behind me are doing. I just have to focus on myself and play my golf, shot by
shot, try to be as committed as possible to each shot.

"The second you get too caught up in what others are doing at a US Open is
when you start making bogeys and double-bogeys in a row."

McIlroy seeks his first major title since 2014. He won last week's PGA
Canadian Open and could become the first player since 1934 to win the week
before and then capture the US Open.

He found Saturday's windy conditions playing havoc with his putting.

"I started to play the wind a little bit on the putts, and the wind was
definitely affecting them," McIlroy said. "I just haven't putted in this much
wind in a while.

"Then you're in two minds: Is this next putt going to be hit by the wind, or
is it not? It was hard."

It made him dig in fiercely at the end, with one birdie, one bogey and 10
pars in the last 12 holes.

"In situations like this where the run could have got away from me, I just
dig in there a little bit more," McIlroy said.

"Just keep hanging around. I did well to get it in under par for the
tournament."