PINEHURST, N.C. — Collin Morikawa began the day tied for 51st entering the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday at Pinehurst No. 2.

He was 4-over par.

After Morikawa shot a 4-under-par 66, the low round of the day, he catapulted up the leaderboard and stands in a tie for ninth entering Sunday’s final round, seven shots out of the lead held by Bryson DeChambeau.

Morikawa, after a disappointing first two rounds of 70 and 74, with a morning tee time showed the leaders a low score could be had.

The two-time major champion, who was in contention to the end at last month’s PGA Championship, was asked what went well on Saturday and his response was: “Everything.’’

“Made up and downs, putted a lot from off the fringe [and] just made the putts that I needed to,’’ he said. “Yesterday, I think I missed everything that I could have made. First day was kind of a little bit of both. So, it was nice to see putts go in [and] just kind of build that hopefully for tomorrow.’’

Morikawa said, trailing the leaders by nine shots entering the day, his goal was to get to even par, which he did.

Asked what his realistic goal is for Sunday’s final round, he said, “If I play the way I did today, who knows what could happen?’’

Morikawa predicted the conditions to become even more testing on Sunday.

“You can’t fake in a round when it’s this tough,’’ he said. “Everything gets exposed. Yes, some good shots aren’t rewarded as well as you would want. It’s a true test of who can stay as patient as possible.’’

Many players with later tee times like to watch the TV coverage to pick up tendencies on how holes are playing. Rory McIlroy is not one of those players.

“I don’t like seeing where other guys are hitting it,’’ said McIlroy, who is tied for second, three shots behind DeChambeau after a third-round 69. “I particularly don’t like when I can watch people hit putts on greens because then, whenever I have a similar putt on the golf course, I’m going off the memory of what I think I saw on TV instead of seeing it with my own eyes.

“I’d rather just not have that option at all. I’ve learned the hard way at times that I don’t need to be watching on the TV.’’

Conversely, DeChambeau said he “loves’’ watching other players’ rounds on TV to pick things up before he plays.

“It’s good insight, great information, see how things are playing, where not to be, where to be,’’ he said.

England’s Tyrrell Hatton was asked after Friday’s second round when he’s been at his “happiest this week.’’

His answer was rather amusing.

“Probably after the dessert that the chef has been doing this week in the house,’’ he said. “I’m sharing with Fitzy [Matt Fitzpatrick], and he always has a chef for the majors. Yeah, [chef] Sean is pretty handy with the desserts, so I’m in my happy place there.

“[Thursday] night we had peanut butter brownies. The night before that he did a chocolate mousse with morning shortbread. Off-the-charts good.’’

Hatton, a noted hothead on the course, was hysterical when asked if he had any idea how much he’s been fined over the years for his outbursts.

“I think you’d actually be shocked because you’re thinking it’s ridiculous amounts,’’ he said. “Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s still a lot of money, but it is nowhere near … give me your best guess.’’

“One hundred thousand,’’ was the guess.

“Mate, you are not even close,’’ he said.

“Higher?’’ he was asked.

“I think even with the DP World Tour, I reckon I haven’t reached double digits,’’ he said. “It’s still quite a bit of money, but it’s nowhere near where you were saying.’’