Rory McIlroy remains in contention to end his nine-year wait for a fifth major title after a "stress-free" third round at the US Open moved him to one shot of co-leaders Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark.
McIlroy is a four-time major winner but the last of those came at the 2014 PGA Championship, despite several chances over the years to add to his haul.
Once again, the Northern Irishman is right in the mix at the top of the leaderboard at Los Angeles Country Club after three birdies and two bogeys to card a one-under 69 during a round in which was rarely in real trouble. "The golf course definitely got a little bit trickier today than the first couple of days," McIlroy, the world No 3, said. "Felt like I played really smart, solid golf. "Hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens.
Sort of felt somewhat stress-free out there, if you can ever call golf at a US Open stress-free." Overnight leader Fowler led playing partner Clark by two as they stood on the 18th tee at LACC.