Birdies available for McIlroy in Maryland

Four birdies in the first seven holes from Korean Bae Sang-moon showed that Rory McIlroy again had nothing to fear from the Congressional course in Bethesta, Maryland as the final round of the US Open began.

The 22-year-old from Irishman’s bid to become the youngest winner of the title since Bobby Jones in 1923 was not resuming until 3.20pm local time and some morning rain kept conditions soft.

Bae birdied the short second and then had three more in a row from the fifth to lift himself from eight over par to four over – 18 adrift of McIlroy, who took an eight-shot lead over YE Yang into the closing 18 holes.

Luke Donald, whose world number one spot was under threat again with Lee Westwood in joint third place, birdied the first, but bogeyed two holes later to return to seven-over.

Even though he was down in 61st he was ahead of five-time runner-up Phil Mickelson, who ran up a six on the long sixth to be eight-over.

Mickelson had ruined any hopes of climbing back into contention with a third-round 77, while Donald had played the last five holes in a cumulative 11-over - and on the 18th alone had had two double bogeys and a bogey.