Noel O'Reillyhere to take you through tonight's final round from the Congressional. With Rory McIlroy leading by eight and on the verge of greatness for the second time in just over two months, history beckons. There is, however, a severe weather warning in Washington. Given his final round meltdown at the US Masters, here's hoping lightening doesn't strike twice.
** Due to technical issues well and truly beyond my control, this hole-by-hole coverage is going to move to a new home. Please follow the link on the homepage of irishtimes.com for the latest updates. Apologies. **
11.55pm:McIrloy's approach to the par 5 16th is stone dead. And he makes no mistake with the putt to go back to 17 under. Gerry, Rory's father is lost for words as the cameras catch up with him on the side of the 16th fairway. "I'm lost for words," he admits, inbetween plenty of "greats"!
11.25pm:"There's a young curly haired kid out there going crazy on us." Graeme McDowell, after finishing on two under in a creditable defence of his title, tells it as it is. Out on the course, McIlroy chalks up another two pars as he edges closer the first of many major wins.
11pm:The kid is human after all. McIlroy makes his first mistake as his par putt on the 12th slides by the hole. Taking driver from the tee was probably a mistake but as Yang dropped a shot on the 12th, the lead is still a commanding eight shots. The pace of play has slowed to a crawl. It could affect McIlroy's rhythm but not the result.
10.50pm:Two very different examples of the Swedish temperament. After four-putting the 12th green Jacobson raises his arms in mock triumph, laughing along with the gallery. Moments later Henrik Stenson snaps the shaft of his club in a fit of pique. All he gets for his trouble is a cut finger. Idiot.
10.30pm:"I almost just pooped myself thinking Rors was going to ace the 10th hole," announces Christina Kim. "Goose bumps," is Azinger's somewhat more restrained reaction.
10.25pm:Genius, absolute genius. McIlroy's six iron to the 10th is pure perfection, coming to rest just inches from the cup. He actually didn't appear to like it in the air but he's loving it now. There's no need to even mark the ball and birdie number three moves him to 17-under par. Yang keeps pace, but this remains a one-man show.
10.10pm:A tentative putt at the ninth denies McIlroy yet another birdie but Yang holes his effort to reach eight under. John Daly might not be watching the golf but, given the day that's in it: "Happy Father's Day to all the proud dads out there & to the many Single mothers who have to play both roles!"
9.50pm:Remarkably, McIlroy could be even lower. A solid effort at the seventh just slides by before the eighth is dispatched with the minimum of fuss. "You don't play this well, even on Playstation," according to Colin Montgomerie in the Sky booth. Never had Monty pegged as a gamer, but there you go. Jacobson joins Yang at seven under.
9.35pm:Heart in mouth moment at the sixth as McIlroy's approach clears the hazard by inches. But it's dry, and he walks away with a five. Yang birdies to close the gap to eight. "I dont think usain bolt could catch @RoryMcIlroy today," muses fellow Ulsterman Mark Allen.
9.20pm:Sublime par save from our leader on the fifth. A timid first putt from distance pulled up well short but McIlroy drained the second. Westwood challenge hits the buffers on the par 5 sixth as he hits his approach into the lake guarding the front of the green.
9pm:Sheer brilliance from McIlroy at the fourth. Another three wood puts him in Position A on the fairway and he knocks his wedge to four feet. From there, the birdie putt is a formality and all of a sudden we're 16 under par. Yes, 16 under. Wow.
8.50pm:The runaway leader successfully negotiates the second and third in par. A lengthy two putt at the second was followed by a rock solid four at the next. At six under, Westwood and YE Yang remain nine behind.
8.30pm:McIlroy pitches into to 12 feet and holes the putt. At 15 under, a new record for the US Open, he's now nine clear of his closest challengers. Simply the perfect start and Christina Kim is clearly impressed. "I'm sorry to everyone that won't appreciate this, but in regards to Rory's birdie on the first. Fuck. That's all that can be said. Magic."
8.20pm:And so it begins. McIlroy knocks a perfect three wood 290 yards down the right hand side of the fairway, it flirts briefly with a divot mark but rolls clear. Perfect start. On the green, Westwood is already applying some pressure with a birdie but that merely brings him within eight of the leader. "The wait is finally over for Rory..Let the March begin," tweets a confident Paul Azinger .
8.10pm:The second to last group are off and running. Westwood and Jason Day hit their opening tee shots and both drift right, with Day finding the bunker. Up ahead, Sergio Garcia is spraying it here, there and everywhere but with his magical short game manages to save par at the first and second. McIlroy hits a few more practice putts and makes his way to the tee.
7.50pm:Amid all the best wishes flooding in for McIlroy on Twitter is this bizarre request from the British Embassy in Washington DC to his manager Chubby Chandler. "Calling @chubby6665 - we'd like to get in touch with @McIlroyRory ASAP. I'm told you're the man to ask ... Can you help?". Now Twitter is a handy networking tool, but would have thought British embassy officials have a little more clout than that?
7.25pm:Not wishing to tempt fate in any way, Sky Sports chronicle the recent final collapses of McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Nick Watney. Given the work he's done with Dave Stockton over the last two months, it's unlikely we're going to see the same travails from McIlroy on the greens today.
7pm:Given the benign conditions – Congressional has rolled over to have it's belly tickled this week – it comes as no surprise to see some movers and shakers among the early starters. Robert Karlsson is six under for the day, while Gregory Havret has picked up four shots. While they've both climbed up the leaderboard, at two and one under respectively, they have yet to force their way into the top 10 at this stage. Westwood, meanwhile, reveals steak was on the menu last night. Nice.
6.45pm:Unlike Augusta, when McIlroy kept fans abreast of his movements morning, noon and night, the 22-year-old has taken a vow of Twitter silence this weekend. Arriving at the course, he does reveal a dinner date with Lee Westwood, tied for third, on Saturday night. Any words of wisdom from his stablemate? "No, definitely not," he admits. "I've gotta take care of my business and take care of myself. If I can do that, I'll be very hard to beat."
6.30pm:Sky Sports are also ready to right Tiger's obituaries. "As one supernova wanes, another star is on the rise," states David Livingtsone to open their coverage.
6pm:McIlroy's heroics over the first three days have inevitably drawn comparisons with Tiger Woods' feats at Pebble Beach in 2000. Woods would win his first US Open on the Californian coast by a staggering 15 shots, leaving his rivals trailing in his wake.
A spurious debate has raged all weekend, before McIlroy has even sealed the deal, as to which is the more impressive performance. McIlroy’s fellow Ulsterman David Feherty was in no doubt when broaching the subject on the Golf Channel last night.
Feherty, perhaps emboldened by the knowledge that Woods doesn’t watch golf on TV, told viewers that even the Woods of 11 years ago would “have his arse served to him” by McIlroy on current form. Not sure how that particular piece of vernacular was understood by his American audience, but we’re sure they got the jist.
Padraig Harrington, not immune to the occasional flight of fancy himself, got in on the act by suggesting that it is McIlroy, and not Woods, who is the most likely to better Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 Majors. For the record, the current score is 14-0 in Woods’ favour.
