Matthew Wolff takes lead into final round at U.S. Open

MAMARONECK, N.Y. – First came Collin Morikawa at the PGA Championship, and now comes Matthew Wolff, another prodigious talent born of the Southern California junior golf scene, at the 120th U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

Wolff, 21, shot a front-nine 30 on the way to a third-round 65. He will take a two-stroke lead over familiar nemesis Bryson DeChambeau (70) going into the final round on Sunday.

“Collin won at 23,” said Wolff, “I'm 21, and I'm not saying that it's going to happen, but I mean, I put myself in a really good spot, and obviously I'm feeling really good with my game. So I'm just going to keep on doing what I'm doing and whatever happens, happens.”

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Although this is Wolff’s first U.S. Open, his style – the funky trigger, the wacky swing path – aligns with the tournament’s all-welcoming ethos. Anyone can qualify, and with the most unique swing on any driving range, Wolff looks exactly like “anyone” – until you see what he can do with the ball.

Wolff hit just two fairways Saturday, but was pleased with his driving going into Sunday, explaining that he wasn’t off by much. He hit 12 of 18 greens in regulation and birdied the 18th hole for his two-stroke lead.

The final tee time will feature two of the most iconoclastic talents in the game. DeChambeau is trying to win his first major and his second title (Rocket Mortgage Classic) since bulking up to add driving distance.

“The past two majors I've played in I've been right in contention,” he said, noting his T4 finish at the PGA Championship last month. “It's definitely validating, albeit there's a lot more to go. I've got to figure out a lot more. I am excited to be in this position for sure. There's no better place to be.”

Should Wolff hang on, he would be the youngest U.S. Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923, and the first 21-year-old U.S. Open winner since Jordan Spieth in 2015. Wolff would also be the first player to win the tournament in his debut since Francis Ouimet in 1913.

He would also stamp an exclamation point on an up and down 2020.

Wolff, who edged Morikawa and DeChambeau for his first PGA TOUR victory at the 3M Open just over a year ago, finished 35th in the recently concluded FedExCup. That wasn’t great, but he began playing better over the summer. The 54-hole leader at the Rocket Mortgage, he shot 71 to finish second to DeChambeau (65), and they each tied for fourth at the PGA.

His mistake in Detroit, Wolff said, was looking ahead and getting “antsy” to start the final round, a gaffe he is hoping to avoid Sunday. He said he has played this week while thinking about his agent, who was recently diagnosed with stomach cancer, putting the golf into perspective.

Those behind Wolff and DeChambeau include Louis Oosthuizen (68, 1 under, four back), plus the threesome of Harris English (72), Hideki Matsuyama (70) and Xander Schauffele (70).

“You know, it doesn't take much around here,” said Rory McIlroy, whose 68 got him to 1 over for the tournament, six back. “Someone gets off to a decent start, maybe 1- or 2-under through 5 and then the leader goes the other way, 1- or 2-over through 5, and all of a sudden you're right in the thick of things.”

The weather for Sunday’s final round is expected to be more of the same, which is to say cold in the morning, followed by crisp sunshine in the afternoon. Autumn in New York.

“It feels like I should be tailgating right now,” said Zach Johnson (68, 2 over total).

Much like Morikawa in San Francisco last month, Wolff will play the final round not in front of boisterous New York galleries, or any type of galleries, but amid the quiet of his own thoughts.

That’s not insignificant.

Said McIlroy, “Just makes it a touch easier for the guys at the top.”

Wolff, sometimes described as fearless, admits he will almost certainly be nervous for the final round but doesn’t argue with that adjective. Sunday might be his greatest test yet.

“I go out there and I play my game,” he said. “There's a lot of holes out there that maybe people would try to hit it in the fairway or maybe take the safe play because it is a U.S. Open and they know that pars are a good score, but I don't really like to think of it that way.

“I like to go out there and do what I feel comfortable with,” he added, “rip dog and see how it goes from there. I feel comfortable with every part of my game so I don't like to shy away from things when I'm feeling confident, and I'm probably going to do the same tomorrow.”