Defiant McIlroy feels Brookline's bite but stems bleeding to stay in Sunday hunt

“It was one of the toughest days on a golf course I've had in a long time,” McIlroy said after a 3-over 73 that featured eight one-putts in space of nine holes

Get in there: Rory McIlroy reacts after putting on the 11th hole during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Saturday, June 18, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. Pic: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

BROOKLINE, Massachusetts – Like many of the leaders on Saturday, Rory McIlroy faltered but he did not fall out of the U.S. Open.

McIlroy felt the brunt of The Country Club’s bite as temperatures dropped and wind picked up, shooting a 3-over 73 to slip to 1-under overall – tied for seventh but just three shots back of co-leaders Will Zalatoris and Matthew Fitzpatrick.