“There’s no such thing as too big an advantage”

Being a successful front-runner at a Major is all about having a strong mindset.

Think of all the times Tiger Woods has led after three rounds and gone on to win. All 14 of his Majors victories have come that way.

There’s no such thing as too big an advantage. The best way to lead is to keep attacking and looking to go six, seven, eight shots ahead.

As soon as you become overly defensive, you can make mistakes. And on a course like Pinehurst, things can spiral out of control very quickly.

So Martin Kaymer will have teed off with those thoughts last night for his third round after starting with two sensational 65s.

Golf is littered with examples where it looked like a player had one hand on the trophy.

Bobby Clampett, Gil Morgan and Ricky Barnes all amassed big leads in Majors, only for it to fritter away and they were never seen again.

It even happens to the best. This season, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott both contrived to throw away tournaments which looked in the bag.

Scott had a seven-stroke lead at Bay Hill with the World No.1 spot up for grabs but his game unravelled.

I’m sure Luke Donald would have loved to be dealing with this situation but sadly it was another wasted week for him.

I really thought the emphasis on chipping and putting would play into his hands but his short game was off.

That tells me he put himself under undue pressure. He took 40 for his opening nine and he was fighting for his life.

Although he recovered on Friday to shoot 69 and missed the cut by one, he never really looked like making the weekend. It was identical to the Masters.

He shot 79 and 70 at Augusta to again miss by one in the same scenario.

I’ve said it before but Luke must find a way to relax in the run-up to a Major. He feels like he should have won one by now and that is weighing heavily upon him. The player who should be most disappointed this week though is Hunter Mahan.

The American, like Donald, missed the cut by one but that included a two-shot penalty for him and partner Jamie Donaldson playing each other’s balls on Friday.

You would be embarrassed to do that in your monthly medal, let alone the US Open. Mahan’s caddie has taken the rap but the responsibility lies with the player.

Mahan has missed out on the double Ryder Cup points on offer for Americans, and Tom Watson won’t be too impressed either.