Keep that card
Jason Day: A dismal 33 holes Friday played in 5 over earned him a slot below this category a day ago. But let's hear it for the No. 1 player in the world, who rebounded in the best way Saturday afternoon. Day birdied four of his first five holes in Round 3 and finished with a 66.
Toss that card
Henrik Stenson: The world's seventh-ranked player, who shot a 1-under 69 in the first round, withdrew Saturday morning for unspecified reasons with two holes left in his second round. He was at 9 over for the tournament and 10 over through 16 holes.
On the course with …
Dustin Johnson: His sure hand turned shaky after he birdied the first hole to get to 5 under. His tee shot on the second hold caromed off a fan and toward a concession stand. He double bogeyed the third and fell off the top of the leaderboard. Still, Johnson is 2 under and insists he's in a good spot.
Open moment
Stalled by rain, the U.S. Open is almost back on schedule. Golfers began the third round playing as threesomes off both the first and 10th tees. Only 24 players did not finish the third round Saturday.
Chip shots
• Defending champion Jordan Spieth started strong with three quick birdies, only to get derailed with a double bogey. He had to settle for a 70 and was nine shots behind the leader. "Come out tomorrow and try to pull a Johnny Miller," Spieth said. Miller famously closed with a 63 at Oakmont to win the 1973 U.S. Open.
• The clubhouse leader is Branden Grace at 1 under. Last year at Chambers Bay Grace stood on the 16th tee in the final round tied for the lead only to see his drive land in some train tracks, leading to a double bogey that dropped him to fourth.
• USGA President Diana Murphy announced during Saturday's telecast that the U.S. Open will return to Oakmont in 2025. That will be the 10th Open at Oakmont.
• Phil Mickelson (7 over) missed the cut for only the third time in 21 U.S. Open starts. He entered the weekend the PGA Tour leader in scoring average.
Key hole
Par-4, 487-yard No. 9: Shane Lowry made birdie to finish off a front-nine 33, while his closest pursuer, Landry, made bogey, one way to account for the two shots that separate them.
Quote of the day
"There was no chance I was missing that putt. I don't know what happened. I can't explain it. It's probably the best putt I've made in the last month."
— Jon Rahm, who sank an 11-foot birdie putt on 17 to make the weekend, the lone amateur to make the cut.
Tweet of the day
"Shane Lowry just made a putt at Oakmont that stayed dead straight for 25 feet. Didn't know it was possible."
— Bleacher Report golf writer Steve Elling (@EllingYelling)
Looking ahead to Day 4
It looks as if the U.S. Golf Association is going to get what it wants: a traditional final round — golfers going off in pairs and all off the first tee. The 24 players who did not finish the third round Saturday will return to Oakmont at 6 a.m. Sunday to complete anywhere from one to five holes. The fourth round is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. FS1 (6 to 8 a.m.) and Ch. 9 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) will have the coverage.
