Golf-DeChambeau powers three clear at the U.S. Open

FILE PHOTO: Jun 14, 2024; Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA; Ludvig Aberg lines up a putt on the 18th green during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst No. 2. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

(Reuters) -Bryson DeChambeau brushed off hip issues to move three shots clear at the top of the U.S. Open third round leaderboard on Saturday, setting up a potential mouth-watering showdown with world number three Rory McIlroy.

On another steamy afternoon at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, DeChambeau recovered from an early bogey and troublesome hip that required treatment mid-round to return a three-under 67 to lead Frenchman Matthieu Pavon (69), Patrick Cantlay (70) and McIlroy (69) by three.