2022 U.S. Open leaderboard breakdown: Stars stacked on top with Will Zalatoris, Matthew Fitzpatrick in front

Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are all in contention at The Country Club

The Country Club bit back Saturday as golfers were faced with a much sterner examination during the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open. Pars felt like birdies, bogeys felt like pars, and birdies felt like highway robbery. While a number of premier players struggled to conquer the firm, fast, and windy conditions in Brookline, Massachusetts, there were two men who rose above the rest and in the process vaulted themselves to the top of the leaderboard.

Those two would be Will Zalatoris and Matthew Fitzpatrick, who now find their names occupying the top spot at 4 under. Two of only three players inside the top 10 to have carded under-par rounds on Saturday, the men who will be the last to tee off Sunday were simply terrific across their third sets of 18 holes.

Consistently finding fairways and holing clutch putts when needed, this is now the second consecutive major championship in which Fitzpatrick will be a member of the final group on Sunday. While things did not go his way at Southern Hills -- nor did they for Zalatoris, either -- the good vibes from his 2013 U.S. Amateur victory at The Country Club could be exactly what push him across the finish line.

"I certainly think it gives me an edge over the others, yeah," said Fitzpatrick of his prior success at The Country Club. "I genuinely do believe that. It's a real, obviously, positive moment in my career. It kind of kickstarted me. To come back here and play so well again, it kind of just gives me growing confidence round by round."

Here is a breakdown of the leaderboard heading into the final round of the 2022 U.S. Open:

T1. Will Zalatoris, Matthew Fitzpatrick (-4): These two experienced heartbreak at the PGA Championship albeit in different fashions. While Zalatoris lost in a playoff, Fitzpatrick simply did not have his game in the final round at Southern Hills. They should both learn from this experience, and I wouldn't be surprised if they go toe-to-toe with the reigning U.S. Open champion, Jon Rahm, on Sunday.

"I think especially coming off the PGA it gave me a lot of belief and confidence that I belong in this situation," said Zalatoris. "There's a difference in thinking it and then actually being in the situation and believing it. So, I think that's probably the biggest change. I've put myself in this situation a few times in my career and obviously have to go out and get it [Sunday]."

3. Jon Rahm (-3): It was quite a rollercoaster Saturday for the typically steady Rahm. Making bogey on the easy par-5 eighth, the Spaniard turned in 1 over and slipped up once again on the par-4 13th. However, he then showed the resolve of a champion and made birdies on three of his next four holes to climb into the solo lead at 5 under. A slightly pulled tee shot on the closing hole found the bunker, and when he left his second shot at his feet, a double bogey followed soon after. Dinner will taste sour, but victory is still within reach and will be even sweeter if able to successfully defend his crown.

T4. Scottie Scheffler, Adam Hadwin and Keegan Bradley (-2): A birdie-birdie finish on Thursday propelled Scheffler into a strong second round, and perhaps his par save on the 18th can do the same entering Sunday. The world No. 1 has to be frustrated knowing that he stood on the 11th tee at 6 under, but he is still right in this tournament and could join some illustrious company with a victory as he would capture the Masters and U.S. Open in the same season. 

T7. Sam Burns, Rory McIlroy and Joel Dahmen (-1): I can't imagine many had Dahmen beating Morikawa by three strokes, but he pulled that off, and affter playing his first eight holes at 4 over, he steadied the ship. Making 10 straight pars coming in, he still finds his name inside the top 10 and only three strokes behind Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick. Burns and McIlroy will be popular fan selections, and rightfully so. But what if I told you it was Dahmen who ranked inside the top 15 in both strokes gained off the tee and strokes gained approach on Saturday? He's striking the ball considerably better than his counterparts at 1 under, and if he can steal Rory's powers on the greens for just one round, he could also steal this national championship.

T11. Denny McCarthy, Gary Woodland, Aaron Wise and three others (+1): McCarthy began the day in a tie for 56th after making the cut on the number. Reminiscent of Webb Simpson's third round at the PGA Championship, his 2-under 68 was the best round for the majority of the day until Zalatoris came in with a 67. McCarthy gained nearly two strokes on approach, and while his off-the-tee numbers look poor, that was due to his lack of distance as he hit 11 of 14 fairways. Accurate with the driver with his irons trending in the right direction and standing as the best putter in this field, maybe, just maybe McCarthy can shock the world.

T17. Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa and five others (+2): Morikawa tried to warn us that his game was not in the finest shape, and when The Country Club showed its teeth, that reality finally surfaced. At one point the betting favorite, the two-time major champion experienced a slow, painful death on Saturday, ultimately signing a 7-over 77. Nothing went right for Morikawa; however, he must be thinking something in the neighborhood of 4 under Sunday could be enough to get the leaders thinking down the stretch.

T25. Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas and five others (+3): Will Thomas pull another rabbit out of his hat? Seven strokes off the pace, it is the exact deficit he overcame en route to his 2022 PGA Championship victory. He will not only have to chase down the man he defeated in that playoff but also leapfrog a number of superstars. Because of that, I can't say I am too optimistic of Thomas, Cantlay or Spieth making significant noise in the final round.

"I would feel better if I was five or six shots better," said Thomas. "Those guys have a lot of golf left. Selfishly, for my sake, hopefully they can stay within striking distance because this is a great place to post. Hopefully, I can get hot [Sunday] and then go post a number and give them a score to look at for a couple of hours."

Who Wins At Brookline? Rick Gehman and Greg DuCharme recap a wild Saturday at The Country Club. Follow & listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris command 54-hole lead

A double bogey on No. 18 has dropped Jon Rahm out of the lead and now one stroke behind the leaders. This finishing stretch will be incredible theater tomorrow.

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Rahm takes advantage of par-4 17th and now commands solo lead

The defending champion is back on top as he has scratched and clawed his way into red figures for the day. 5 under for the championship, a par on his final hole will put him in the final group and with a slight margin in what has been an incredible defense effort.

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Fitzpatrick bogeys the last, Rahm birdies 15th, now three at the top

A dropped shot on No. 18 has Matt Fitzpatrick at 4 under through 54 holes alongside Will Zalatoris. Still on the course are Jon Rahm at 4 under and Scottie Scheffler at 2 under. Overnight leader Collin Morikawa is 6 over on the day and now five strokes off the pace.

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June 18, 2022, 10:52 PM
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Fitzpatrick takes the outright lead

With three birdies in his last four holes, Matt Fitzpatrick has reached 5 under and now finds himself in the solo lead. With a par on the last, he will be in the final pairing for the second consecutive major.

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Zalatoris in the house at 4 under

The reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year has commanded the solo lead through his first 54 holes. It will be interesting to see if anyone can join him as Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm are now at 3 under, while Keegan Bradley is in the clubhouse at 2 under.

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Rory is quietly staying in touch

After three bogeys on his opening nine, McIlroy has connected on his first birdie of the day on the par-3 11th. At 2 under, he is only two strokes behind Zalatoris who could be in some trouble on No. 18.

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