Mamaroneck (United States) (AFP)

A young "wolf" named Matthew Wolff, 21 years old and in his second professional season, surprised his world on day 3 of the US Open, to escape in the lead (-5) and only Bryson DeChambeau follows him twice. , Saturday in Mamaroneck (New York).

Wolff surrendered a card of 65. He only committed one bogey at the N.16 hole after five successful birdies on his first nine holes.

And in the 18th, he added a last birdie, benefiting from a happy rebound of his ball on the edge of the rough (tall grass) which sent it back on the flat.

"It's a really tough course, but I did well, I felt good in my game, in all aspects. Yet I only hit two fairways (out of 14), but every time when I was in the rough, I was lucky to be in the graduated zone so I was able to hit the ball well ".

"I'm going to have to hit the fairway more often on Sunday if I want to hope to win," nonetheless conceded the 36th world, university champion last year for Oklahoma State, who is playing only his second Major on the versatile Winged Foot course. windswept as the day before.

- DeChambeau "resilient" -

During his first Grand Slam, the USPGA played a month ago in San Francisco, he had already distinguished himself by finishing fourth in a tournament kidnapped to everyone's surprise by another youngster, Collin Morikawa, 23.

It was at the expense of the latter and DeChambeau that Wolff had won his first title at the 3M Open in July 2019.

The hardest part obviously remains to be done, if only in terms of pressure on this US Open, for the American who will have to go the distance during the 4th and last Sunday round.

But what he showed on Saturday is remarkable and promising.

Behind, Bryson DeChambeau was the only one to cling to his opponent's trailer.

After two bogeys on the first two holes, he compensated with three birdies at Nos. 7, 16 and 17, before missing the par with nothing in the 18th, where Wolff finished strong.

"It was not won today, I showed perseverance, I was resilient despite a lot of missed fairways. Sunday, I will try not to hurry too much, but to play tight", a said the American still well in the race for him also to taste a first victory in Major.

Four strokes behind the leader, the South African Louis Oosthuizen, who returned a good 68 (-1) card thanks to four birdies that came to erase two bogeys, he closed the podium.

- Rory believes it -

“Any lap that ends up under par, you take,” he said, saying he was “really lucky that the wind has dropped”.

In fourth place is a trio made up of Japanese Hideki Matsuyama and Americans Xander Sc Chaudele and Harris English (0).

They are followed by Rory McIlroy (+1), author of a better day than the day before (76) by returning a card of 68, after three birdies and a bogey.

The Northern Irishman is still six lengths from the lead, which may be fair to hope to come and play the spoilsport, even if Winged Foot lends itself to turnarounds.

"I have a good chance. Six shots is not that much on this course, I have the feeling that I can do it", convinced himself the Northern Irishman in search of a 5th Major since 2014.

And proof that anything is possible: Patrick Reed who dominated the debates until then, has completely unscrewed him.

He committed six of his eight bogeys, plus a double-bogey, on his last nine holes and found himself 11th, eight strokes behind Wolff who had four more than him in the morning.

© 2020 AFP