Collin Morikawa at 1-Under Entering Final Round of U.S. Open

Collin Morikawa is unlikely to capture his third major title this week, but he is ahead of a pair of big-name golfers heading into Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open.

Morikawa, a former Cal standout and a two-time winner in majors, got through a wild start to his third round on Saturday and finished with a 1-under-par 69, leaving him at 1-under for the tournament and nine strokes off the lead.

Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark are tied for the lead at 10 under par after three rounds. Clark picked up two strokes on the final hole, carding a birdie on the 18th while Fowler had to settle for a bogey after missing a short parr putt. Rory McIlroy is one stroke behind the leaders and Scottie Scheffler is two strokes in back of McIlroy at 7-under.

Morikawa is back in the pack, tied for 14th, but he is just two strokes out of the top 10 and five strokes out of the top five.

And he is in better shape than Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm, both of whom were among the favorites to win this year’s U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Koepka, the winner of five majors, including the recent PGA Championship, had a double bogey on the 15th hole and a bogey on No. 18 to finish with an even-par round of 70 on Saturday. He is at even-par for the tournament, a stroke behind Morikawa. Rahm, who has won two majors and is currently ranked No. 2 in the world, also shot an even-par 70 on Thursday and stands at 2-over for the tournament, three strokes behind Morikawa.

Morikawa had only one par in his first eight holes Thursday, filling his scorecard with an assortment of colors. He birdied the first hole, then proceeded to go double bogey, birdie, birdie, bogey, par, bogey birdie. That left him at even par for the day heading to the ninth tee. Morikawa then parred each of the next eight holes before getting his only back-nine birdie on No. 17.

It will take a sensational round by Morikawa and poor performances by the leaders on Sunday to put Morikawa in contention for his third major title. But he may be happy just to be playing on Sunday. Afterall, he was in danger of missing the cut on Friday, but birdied his final three holes to qualify to play Saturday.

Max Homa, the other former Cal player expected to contend this week, failed to make the cut after shooting 76 on Friday.

Cover photo of Collin Morikawa by Kiyoshi Mio, USA TODAY Sports

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