Rory McIlroy visibly taken aback as secret is leaked on live TV at the US Open

Rory McIlroy was left gobsmacked after discovering his coach had spilt the beans about a pivotal 'eureka moment' in his game during a live TV broadcast.

The golf star is on a mission to snap his ten-year drought without a major title by winning the US Open this weekend. After wrapping up Saturday's play three strokes adrift of frontrunner Bryson DeChambeau, McIlroy is tied for second place heading into the final round at Pinehurst.

With a one-under 69 on Saturday, McIlroy remains well within striking distance at four-under par overall, sharing his spot with Patrick Cantlay and Matthieu Pavon. Overcoming his rivals would bring long-awaited success to McIlroy, who won the US Open back in 2011. Yet, the 35-year-old was caught off guard when he found out that his putting coach Brad Faxon had been divulging his trade secrets on television.

While serving as an analyst for NBC Sports, Faxon recounted how McIlroy had an epiphany about a swing technique. Faxon shared the anecdote of their journey back from the Memorial Tournament in Toronto, where McIlroy turned to his agent Sean O'Flaherty and exclaimed: "Sean, I just figured it out."

According to Faxon, McIlroy told his agent: "I figured out my swing." The putting coach then described witnessing McIlroy's lightbulb moment. "He got up in the aisle and showed him," Faxon revealed. "He started standing a little closer to the ball."

Following McIlroy's round on Saturday, his coach's comments were relayed to the Northern Irishman by NBC and Sky Sports Golf's Kira K. Dixon: "Our NBC colleague Brad Faxon was saying on the broadcast that you had a bit of a 'eureka moment' on the plane from the Memorial Tournament back home.

"You figured something out, you got up and you were making some practice swings apparently. Is this true and what is the eureka moment?'"

Caught off guard, McIlroy responded: "Okay...it may be true. I don't know if I want to disclose it right now. It's nice to know that Fax is sort of giving away all of our secrets! "

Dixon tried to lighten the mood before McIlroy added: "No, I know, I know, but...we spend a lot of time on planes and I spend a lot of time thinking about my game in the air. Sometimes things come to me."

McIlroy is now setting his sights on the top of the US Open leaderboard and closing in on DeChambeau's three-shot lead. The golfer from Holywood is targeting his first major victory since the 2014 PGA Championship.

McIlroy will tee off with Cantlay for the final round. He previously with Cantlay's caddie Joe LaCava over his celebrations during the Ryder Cup, leading to a confrontation in the car park.