Robert MacIntyre questioned "why can't it be me?" when asked if he could win the U.S. Open after his impressive third round display at Oakmont on Saturday. 

MacIntyre described his opening round level-par 70 as one of the best of his life, but went on to better that 48 hours later to put himself in contention heading into the final round. 

The Scot put in a controlled performance to card 69, sitting three over and six shots behind leaders Sam Burns and J.J. Spaun, who were midway through their third round. 

It might have been even better for MacIntyre as he had got down to one over after 12 holes but a spate of bogeys in the final six holes saw him drift back down the leaderboard. 

However, he still believes he is in contention win a first major. 

Asked if he can win, he replied: "One hundred per cent. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that. It's a simple answer, yes.

"I'm just delighted to be in it. Going into tomorrow, if I can shoot the number I know I can shoot, then why can't it be me?

"I have been playing really well this year, another round to go. I have put three solid rounds together so far.

"Tomorrow I have got to go out there, give my best, don't try and focus too much on trying to win.

"Just go out there, hit the shots, then come 15, 16, see where are sitting and decide whether to roll the dice or not."

Phew!

Robert MacIntyre was thisclose to having to pitch out from the deep rough, but instead buries the putt on No. 2 to pull within six strokes of the lead. pic.twitter.com/UQyRtmOX91

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2025

Heavy rain overnight and throughout the morning had made the brutal Oakmont course slightly more playable but it still presented its challenges.

"It was still difficult," MacIntyre added. "It is a little bit softer, so when you're on the fairway it gives you more of an opportunity, but I think the rough is even thicker with the water.

"I felt there was a low number with the way I was playing, I was playing beautifully out there.

"The key to this golf course is just be on the fairway. It is the priority, and then you can go from there."

Burns and Spaun reached the turn in a share of the lead while LIV Golf's Carlos Ortiz stormed into contention and was two shots back along with Viktor Hovland. 

Burns, who began the day at three under, one clear of Spaun, offset an early bogey with a birdie on the fifth hole to card an even-par 35 across the front nine. 

Spaun birdied the opening hole to grab a share of the lead, and held the outright lead after Burns bogeyed the second but dropped a shot at the third hole before moving back in front with a birdie on the fourth.

Ortiz, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the starting field, began the day six shots off the lead but had four birdies and no bogeys on his card with two holes to play.

Hovland, playing in the penultimate pairing with Australian Adam Scott, was two shots behind the leaders after offsetting two early bogeys with a pair of birdies.

Scott, appearing in his 96th consecutive major, was in a share of fifth place with LIV's Tyrell Hatton, who was three under for his round with four holes to play.

Pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler was unable to make a big move as he mixed four bogeys with four birdies for an even-par 70 that left him at four over.