• US Open, Round Three

Sunday auditions for Rory's support cast

Rory McIlroy went head to head with YE Yang but at times you forgot the Korean was even there © Getty Images

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ESPN will be providing live commentary during all four days of the US Open from Congressional CC - along with all the news, views and opinion when it gets underway on Thursday

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For the third straight day, Rory McIlroy made his fellow professionals at Congressional feel like his support cast.

McIlroy's playing partner YE Yang began and ended the third round as the man closest to his lead, but there were times when you almost forgot he was out there.

In the group ahead, Sergio Garcia showed glimpses of inspiration - in particular a Seve-like escape from under a tree on 14 that he sprinted up the hill after.

And Robert Garrigus, the big hitter with the small putter, got himself to five under with an accomplished performance.

But they were merely a sideshow, and not even sizzling 65s from Jason Day and McIlroy's friend Lee Westwood could steal the limelight from the man who has made this 111th US Open his own.

Barring a spectacular collapse, McIlroy will be crowned US Open champion in the early hours of Monday morning.

For the second major in a row he'll lead going into the final round, and this time by twice the margin. Four shots was his cushion at Augusta, he'll have eight to play with at Congressional.

Never in the history of the majors has a player conceded such a lead on the final day. And the way McIlroy's playing, it's almost unimaginable to think that might change.

On Saturday he was once again close to immaculate. He hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, dropping just a single shot in a controlled performance that showed no sign of nerves.

Even his bogey at 10 could be deemed beyond reproach. McIlroy's tee shot at the par-three was struck so sweetly it sailed directly over the pin and landed in the bunker at the back of green. Wrong club, but nothing wrong with the shot.

I followed him for all 18 holes, and his concentration didn't waiver for a moment. There was the occasional smile, and the occasional high-five for a young fan, but almost everything else was shut out.

Before his round he talked about the need to stay "focused on the process". And that's exactly what he did.

And while his third round might have lacked the fireworks that came before, for that reason it was equally impressive. From a meltdown at The Masters to a mental game masterclass in Maryland - and he's done it in six short weeks.

No wonder his fellow Irishmen were singing his praises, as they joined in the procession of plaudits for the man of the moment.

"He's potentially the next Tiger Woods, he's that good," said Graeme McDowell.

"If you are going to talk about someone challenging Jack's record (Nicklaus' 18 majors), there's your man," said Padraig Harrington.

But before we get carried away some words of caution. Arnold Palmer lost a seven-shot lead on the final day of the 1966 US Open. And Greg Norman famously gave away six to Nick Faldo at the 1996 Masters.

Now I don't remember 1966, but I'm pretty sure neither of them spent the first three days of the tournament playing like McIlroy has this week.

It's Rory's tournament, and everybody else is playing for second place.

- Will Tidey will be covering the US Open at Congressional Country Club exclusively for ESPN.co.uk. You can send him your questions via Twitter at www.twitter.com/willtidey

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