Hovland's driver drama: Can he overcome it at the US Open to win his first major?

OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — When Viktor Hovland sliced his opening shot in the the third round of the U.S. Open all the way into the bushes, he had no good options.

He took a penalty stroke, dropped onto a muddy cart path and managed to hit through some of Oakmont's few remaining trees on his way to a bogey.

Hovland finished with an even-par 70 on Saturday and was three strokes behind leader Sam Burns heading into the final round. The 27-year-old Norwegian was a definite threat to win his first major title this week. The question is whether his driver would allow it.

“A little bitter about my driver. Just can't seem to figure it out,” Hovland said. “It's like a lingering problem all these years.”

Hovland's first shot of the day went so far right that it disappeared into some bushes at the very edge of the course.

“Aimed it left, and tried to hit a little squeeze cut out there,” Hovland said. “Just got super stuck on it, hit it off the heel as well, and it was an open club face. And then just, yeah, sayonara.”

Even after dropping, the former Oklahoma State star needed to hit between a couple trees. His shot clipped one of them slightly but still reached the green, and he was able to limit the damage.

After another bogey on No. 3, Hovland's 7-iron approach on the par-4 ninth took one hop and bounced off the flagstick — an example of what he is capable of from the fairway. He birdied that hole and No. 10, and after his tee shot went into the rough on 17, he hit a beautiful pitch over a couple bunkers and then made a 3-foot putt for birdie.

“I was quickly staring at bogey there if that second shot doesn't come out perfectly," he said.

But just when it seemed Hovland would finish on a great note, he ended the round like he started it — missing the fairway to the right off the tee. This time he found a bunker on No. 18 and bogeyed that hole to fall to 1 under for the tournament. He was in fourth place behind Burns, Adam Scott and J.J. Spaun.

“When you start to see the ball leak a little bit right, which has been my miss recently and came out today, then that’s when you start to guide it a little bit more,” he said. “Obviously, that leads to even worse shots. So it’s kind of a bad position to be in.”

Hovland was right back on the range after his round, trying to work out the kinks. He's doing enough other things well that even a little improvement with the driver could leave him in very good shape.

"I’m a few shots behind, but obviously I’ve got a chance. If you would have asked me start of the week if I had a chance to win on Sunday I would have been extremely happy with that, three shots behind," he said. “A lot of things can happen out here.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Viktor Hovland, of Norway, chips onto the 17th green during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Viktor Hovland, of Norway, lines up a putt on the second hole during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Viktor Hovland, of Norway, pumps his fist after making a putt on the 15th hole during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

eViktor Hovland, of Norway, tosses his club after making his approach to the 18th green during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Viktor Hovland, of Norway, celebrates after making a putt on the 15th hole during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)