Rory McIlroy is within touching distance of winning his first major after opening up and eight-shot lead over nearest rival YE Yang ahead of today's US Open final round. The 22-year-old shot 68 in his third round to break the US open record for the best total after 54 holes with 199. The Northern Irishman is also the first golfer to reach 14 under in the tournament's 111-year existence. Yang (70) is on six under, while Lee Westwood and Jason Day both carded 65s to leave themselves on five under with Robert Garrigus. The current record for a last-round comeback at the US Open is nine shots, achieved by Jack Fleck at the Olympic Club in 1955. The third round was arguably McIlroy's weakes so far, but he still dominated his opponents to continue on his seemingly unstoppable route to victory. If, as seems likely, he does go on to win, McIlroy would become the youngest winner of the US Open since Bobby Jones in 1923. It would also give Northern Ireland the unlikely accolade of becoming the only nation other than the USA to win back-to-back US Opens. McIlroy, who was third at the Open last year and third in the last two USPGA Championships, has now held the lead in six of his last seven rounds in majors. He said: "I know now how to approach tomorrow. At Augusta it was all a bit new to me. "I didn't know whether to be defensive or aggressive. I have a clear mind now and just need to stick to my game plan. "It would mean a lot to me. Even though it's been a short career I feel I've had enough experiences and feel the time is right to go ahead and win my first major." McIlroy again took advantage of a soft Congressional course by reaching the turn in two-under 34 courtesy of birdies at the fifth and ninth and well-saved pars after finding the rough on the third and the sand on the fifth. The second birdie at the ninth - so nearly an eagle from the previous attempt - brought him back to 13 under, the record score he set on Friday before a double-bogey at the last blemished his scorecard. He dropped a shot on the 10th after another visit to a bunker, but birdied the 11th with a 14ft putt. A steady par at 18 put any nerves from his second round error out of mind and ensured McIlroy beat Jim Furyk's 2003 record US Open 54-hole total of 200.