Faldo shoots tournament low score

Nick Faldo was so happy to be invited to the U.S. Open that he came to Bethpage Black wearing an ``I Love New York'' cap.

After finding a game Saturday he thought might have been long gone, he was bordering on ecstatic.

In the U.S. Open only because of a special exemption, Faldo shot a 4-under 66 in the third round that did more than just get him on a leaderboard within shouting distance of Tiger Woods.

It also rekindled hopes that, even at age 44, he can still play when it counts.

``This was as good as my heyday,'' Faldo said. ``It was as good as 10 years ago, or as good as the 67 at Augusta that won.''

That 67, of course, came six years ago, when Faldo came from six shots behind in the final round of the Masters to beat a stumbling Greg Norman and win his third green jacket and sixth major championship.

Since then, though, he's struggled. And if it wasn't for the U.S. Golf Association deciding last month to give him a special invitation to Bethpage Black, his major championship playing streak would have ended at 60.

``I've had my negatives for the last couple of years. I was really down on my game,'' Faldo said. ``I slowly built it back up, but just not as quickly as I wanted.''

Faldo, who has been wearing the New York cap all week, shot a solid first-round 70, but faded to a 76 on Friday in the rain and cold.

But he knew warming up on the range Saturday that he was striking the ball well and could come out firing at the pins on the softened course.

``I came here with all to gain and nothing to lose,'' Faldo said. ``It's already been a good week.''

Faldo, whose streak of playing in major championships began with the 1987 British Open and is the longest among active players, has had only one top-10 finish in the majors the past five years.

Even that one was a bit tainted, coming in the 2000 U.S. Open where he finished 18 strokes behind Woods.

But on Saturday, he was right in the thick of the leaderboard, only 2-over-par through 54 holes of the longest and one of the toughest U.S. Open courses ever.

``I was 6 over and out of it so there was no pressure. I glanced but I wasn't really paying attention to the scores,'' Faldo said. ``I just put my head down and tried to hit as many good shots as possible.''

Not knowing if he would get a special invitation, Faldo had planned to go to Florida to practice and work out in preparation for the British Open next month at Muirfield, the same course where he won two of his major titles.

Instead, he hopes he found his game on one of the most improbable stages -- the middle of a U.S. Open. A good round Sunday might not win it, but should secure a spot in next year's Open.

``This has given me a good boost. This is really good for me,'' Faldo said.

Faldo hasn't won since the 1997 Nissan Open, but has actually played fairly well on the European Tour this year with three top 10s. And he was under par at the Masters this year, finishing 14th.

It's all enough to make him excited again about his immediate future next month at Muirfield.

``If the wind blows the right way for me, you never know,'' Faldo said. ``You never know what might be in store.''