US Open 2025: Sam Burns leads, Scott, Spaun, Hovland, Hatton and MacIntyre among chasers

Hatton has often demonstrated the skills required to win a major, and yet he has only one top-five finish in 40 appearances.

An excellent round of 68 on Saturday left him seventh, five shots behind Burns, and it could have been even better had a monster eagle putt not drifted inches past the 17th hole.

He dismissed suggestions not having previously won a major will affect the contenders.

“It’s another golf tournament, and you’re playing against a lot of the guys week in, week out,” he said. “You have to trust that you can compete and beat anyone.”

European Ryder Cup team-mate MacIntyre retains that belief after carding four birdies and three bogeys in his round of 69.

“I’m just delighted to be in it,” he said. “If I shoot the number I know I can shoot, then why not me?”

One further back, Scheffler remains a presence but is yet to find his best form this week, summed up by an ugly missed par putt from two feet at the eighth.

At least he remains somewhat in touch.

The 2021 US Open champion Jon Rahm’s challenge came unstuck after playing the back nine in four over. At seven over par he is surely too far away to threaten. Alongside the Spaniard is world number three Xander Schauffele, who has finished inside the top 15 in all eight of his previous US Open appearances.

As for Masters champion McIlroy, a bogey at the 18th capped another testing day and left him “waiting for my week to end”.

Follow live text and radio commentary of Sunday’s final round from 18:00 BST on the BBC Sport website, app and BBC Sounds.