\n Two metronomic swings of the club later, the American was plucking his ball out of the cup for birdie, barely a flicker of a reaction on the world No. 1\u2019s face as he began his stride to the next tee.\n <\/p>\n
\n It was a perfect encapsulation of the clinical precision with which Scheffler once again plotted his way across Northern Ireland\u2019s Causeway Coast, as a bogey-free third round 67 powered the tournament favorite into a commanding four-shot lead with 18 holes to play at the 153rd edition of the major.\n <\/p>\n
\n An eagle at the par-five seventh hole proved the peak of yet another imperious display by the 29-year-old, who has not dropped a shot since bogeying the 11th enroute to a major career-low 64 on Friday.<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI think it would be silly to say that you can never let your mind wander, but I think most of what I can control is the time I have when we\u2019re thinking about the shot and when I\u2019m over the ball,\u201d Scheffler told reporters.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cMost of that\u2019s just being committed to what I\u2019m doing, so I\u2019m not thinking about wind, I\u2019m not thinking about how the ball is going to bounce. I have a picture of what I want to do, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m committed to try and make happen.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n At 14-under par overall, Scheffler is within touching distance of a first Claret Jug that would leave him a US Open crown away from joining Rory McIlroy<\/a> in completing the career grand slam of all four major titles.\n <\/p>\n \n It\u2019s an ominous state of play. The 16-time PGA Tour winner has converted his last seven 54-hole leads or co-leads on the circuit, according<\/a> to PGA Tour Communications, and all three such advantages at majors; The Masters in 2022 and 2024, as well as May\u2019s PGA Championship<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI\u2019m excited for the challenge of tomorrow. Winning major championships is not an easy task, and I\u2019ve put myself in a good position,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI\u2019m going to step up there on the first tee and I\u2019m going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I\u2019m going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There\u2019s not really too much else going on.\u201d\n <\/p>\n Li and Fitzpatrick lead the chase<\/p>\n \n There is some historical evidence for the chasing pack to cling onto, however. Tiger Woods is the only world No. 1 to arrive at The Open and win, albeit with the caveat that he did it three times in 2000, 2005 and 2006.\n <\/p>\n \n What\u2019s more, closest challenger Haotong Li has pedigree on Open Sunday. The four-time European Tour winner fired a closing 63 at Royal Birkdale in 2017 to climb to third and register the best ever finish by a Chinese golfer at a men\u2019s major.\n <\/p>\n \n The world No. 11 had thought about quitting the sport entirely in 2023 after struggles with the dreaded yips<\/a>, an involuntary muscle tension in the wrist, contributed to a sharp dive in form, but impressed again with a third round 69 to set up a Sunday pairing with a historic talent.\n <\/p>\n \n Asked how he got from where he was two years ago to where he is now, Li burst out laughing: \u201cI don\u2019t know. It\u2019s a miracle.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cFour shots behind \u2026 (to) play with world No. 1,\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019ll just try to play my best out there and hopefully make something happen. I\u2019s going to be exciting.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n England\u2019s Matt Fitzpatrick sits one stroke behind Li at nine-under overall after shooting even-par 71, the boost of a stunning chip-in eagle dampened by three bogeys across the back nine. It left the 2022 US Open victor<\/a> to rue his putter after a Friday 66 had moved him within a stroke of Scheffler.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cJust made way less putts than Scottie \u2026 they just wouldn\u2019t go in,\u201d the 30-year-old told reporters.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cHis putting is night and day. From what you guys all talk about how bad it was at one point, I didn\u2019t really play with him in that period. He\u2019s just not missed a putt today \u2026 and that\u2019s obviously the difference that\u2019s taken him to this unbeatable run.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Home hero McIlroy is among the four-strong group sat six shots behind Scheffler at six-under overall, as an eventful 66 saw him pick up one stroke on his American rival.\n <\/p>\n \n The world No. 2 had said he felt ready to make a much-needed run and duly tore out of the blocks, opening with a curling putt from over 36 feet for birdie before rolling in his third of the day at the fourth hole.\n <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ap25200669852080.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Haotong](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ap25200587865768.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gettyimages-2226011644.jpg\")
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![\"Rory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shutterstock-editorial-15403239ad.jpg\")
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