OAKMONT, Pa. — Jovial Irishman Shane Lowry possessed positive vibes and a good attitude when he arrived at challenging Oakmont Country Club for the 116th edition of the U.S. Open.
Now he has the lead.
Lowry never wavered despite frustrating weather delays Thursday that knocked the national championship askew as he rolled to an opening-round of 68. His spirits weren’t shattered on a sun-drenched Saturday morning when he called a penalty on himself after he addressed the ball on the putting surface and it moved. He eventually signed for a second-round 70.
And through 14 holes of the delayed third round, as Oakmont firmed up and started delivering hair-raising moments to the players and the tournament took on a wide-open feel, Lowry kept smiling and took up residence at the top of the leaderboard.
As the U.S. Open continued its march toward getting back on schedule, Lowry is at 5 under for the tournament, two shots clear of the field and feeling good after making five birdies in his last 11 holes.
“I said to my dad on the way in here, I definitely felt very comfortable out there,” said Lowry, whose breakout win in the United States came last year in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. “ … I do really like the place. When I got here Sunday, thought how am I going to get around here. Tried to come up with a game plan at the start of the week. Just tried to feel comfortable around the place. I've been doing quite well so far with my game plan. If I stick with that, God knows where I'll be tomorrow.
“We all know that this course can jump up and bite you in a split second. So yeah, I'm two ahead with 22 holes left. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. These are the best golfers in the world behind me.”
A long Sunday awaits the 67 players who made the cut after darkness ended play around 9 p.m. The third round will recommence at 7 a.m. Upon its completion, the field will be repaired and likely will finish the fourth round by Sunday sunset.
Two behind Lowry is Andrew Landry, a bit player when he arrived at Oakmont but a rising star since hitting his first tee shot Thursday. With a large logo supporting Moonshine Sweet Tea and playing in his first major, the PGA Tour rookie has kept his composure throughout and he’s 3 under with five holes left in his third round.
Branden Grace, who held a share of the lead on the 70th hole in last year’s U.S. Open before driving his ball out of bounds, is at 1 under after a 66, the same score shot by world No. 1 Jason Day as he got back in it at 1 over. Among those also at 1 over is Bryson DeChambeau, the 2015 U.S. Amateur champion who shot 70.
“Shoot anything under par here, you're definitely moving up a lot,” Day said. “Hopefully, I give myself an opportunity tomorrow. I just wanted the course to play hard and fast … I think the harder the better, like a normal U.S. Open Sunday should be. I think it would be fun for everyone. Even though it is hard and stressful, I just enjoy those times.”
Three other central players in the riveting tale unfolding in the hills north of Pittsburgh have all had moments mindful of a Shakespearean tragedy. Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson, each of whom has had ownership of the Best Player Never to Win a Major tag in their careers, are again in position to rid themselves of the unwanted tag.
The winners of a combined 54 titles on the PGA and Europeans tours have 49 top-10s among them in the game’s four biggest events. Garcia has been runner-up twice in the British Open and twice in the PGA Championship and has 20 top-10s. Westwood has finished in the top 3 nine times, including a tie for second in the Masters. He has 18 top-10s in majors.
Johnson has 11 top-10s, including five in his last six starts in a major. He had a heartbreaking finish in last year’s U.S. Open, when he had a putt to win but three-putted to lose by one.
All are at 2 under — Westwood has three holes to finish, Garcia four and Johnson, who led by one after 36 holes, has five to go.
“No, there's no monkeys. That's nonsense,” Garcia said when asked how he would feel to get the major championship monkey off his back. “At the end of the day, the only thing I can do is give myself chances. Play well. And if it happens, it happens. I will only know the day that it happens. So it is easy for me to stand here and tell you it will mean this or that, but until it happens, you never know.”
World No. 2 Jordan Spieth shot his best round of the tournament, a 70, but is nine shots back at 4 over.
Among those missing the cut of 6 over were Phil Mickelson, four-time major champions Rory McIlroy and Ernie Els, 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler and Brandt Snedeker.
Follow Steve DiMeglio on Twitter @Steve_DiMeglio.
PHOTOS: SATURDAY AT THE U.S. OPEN
