2011 U.S. OPEN  – THIRD ROUND NOTES

Rory McIlroy’s eight-stroke lead trails only Tiger Woods, who led by 10 strokes in 2000 at Pebble Beach, for largest 54-hole lead in U.S. Open history.

McIlroy’s total of 199 is the lowest 54-hole score in U.S. Open history surpassing Jim Furyk’s record of 200 in 2003 at Olympia Fields.

At 22 years, 1 month, 14 days, Rory McIlroy is the youngest 54-hole leader since Jim Simons in 1971 at Merion, who was 21 years, 1 month, 5 days.

The third day yielded the most sub-par scores in a third round in U.S. Open history at 26 and surpassing the previous record of 24 at Medinah in 1990.

McIlroy is the first player to reach 14-under-par in U.S. Open history, breaking the record he set yesterday of 13-under-par.

Rory McIlroy - 1st player to reach 14-under par in U.S. Open history

The Northern Irishman is the first player to shoot in the 60s in the first three rounds of the U.S. Open since Jim Furyk (67-66-67) and Stephen Leaney (67-68-68) did so at Olympia Fields (Ill). C.C. in 2003.

And lost in ‘Rory’s record-smashing roadshow’ is the fact three amateurs made the 36-hole cut:

Patrick Cantlay, 75-67-70—212, 1-under

Russell Henley, 73-69-71—213, Even

Brad Benjamin, 72-73-80—225, 12-over

Four local and sectional qualifiers made the 36 hole cut:

Bud Cauley, 71-72-74—217, 4-over

Adam Hadwin, 75-71-73—219, 6-over

Alexandre Rocha, 69-76-76—221, 8-over

Christo Greyling, 72-74-75—221, 8-over