Goosen pulls two clear on demanding day

Former champion Retief Goosen battled his way into a two-shot lead in the U.S. Open third round on Saturday as Shinnecock Hills presented its stiffest test of the week.

South African Goosen, winner in 2001 at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, held his nerve in challenging conditions to card a one-under-par 69 for a five-under total of 205.

"The greens were rock-hard and very bumpy, tricky to putt on," said Goosen, who lost ground with dropped shots on 13 and 14 but got back to five under with birdies on 15 and 16.

"However, I putted very nicely and that kept me in the thick of things. But some of those holes played really tough," he told reporters.

"I felt comfortable out there, actually quite calm for an Open championship," added the smooth-swinging South African, one of only three players to return sub-par rounds on Saturday.

U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson, co-leader overnight with Japan's Shigeki Maruyama, bogeyed the last two holes for a 73 and a share of second place on three-under 207 with twice winner Ernie Els, who had a 70.

"It was tough today," said Els, U.S. Open champion at Oakmont in 1994 and at Congressional in 1997. "That's as hard as a U.S. Open gets right there.

"I'm sure the guys will say the same thing, that the greens were borderline. They were getting away from us."

Maruyama, who double-bogeyed the last, returned a 74 to tie for fourth at two under with 48-year-old Fred Funk. American Funk dropped three shots over the last five holes for a 72.

Best round of the day was a four-under 66 by South Africa's Tim Clark, who took advantage of more favourable conditions in the morning to vault into a tie for sixth on 209 with Jeff Maggert (74).

World number one Tiger Woods battled to a three-over 73 for 214 and Vijay Singh tumbled out of contention with a 77 for 215 as most of the field struggled on a firm and fast-running Shinnecock layout in stiffening breezes.

Saturday is traditionally termed 'Moving Day' at the majors, and it was no different at the 104th U.S. Open on the eastern end of New York's Long Island.

Although there was little wind in the morning for the third day in a row, the rock-hard fairways and heavily contoured greens provided a daunting challenge as they dried out in bright afternoon sunshine.

Mickelson, bidding to become the sixth player in golfing history to win the first two majors of the year, surrendered the lead with three dropped shots in the first seven holes.

He missed the fairway off the tee at the fourth and was unable to salvage par after hacking out his second shot from thick rough.

Worse was to come, though, at the treacherous par-three seventh where he ran up a double-bogey five. His eight-iron tee shot there ran through the back of the green and, after chipping back, he three-putted.

Although the 34-year-old birdied both par-fives, the fifth and 16th, to draw level with Goosen at five under, he fell back with bogeys at the par-three 17th, where he was bunkered off the tee, and at the last, where he three-putted from 45 feet.

"I have a lot of work left but I don't feel it's far off," said left-hander Mickelson. "I'm two shots back but, if I drive it a little better, I feel like I can make some birdies.

"(Tomorrow) we will have guys outlasting each other...who can make the most pars before somebody bogeys...that type of thing. I think the short game is going to play a huge factor in tomorrow's winner."

Woods, one over at the start of the day, experienced a rollercoaster day. He collected a double-bogey, four bogeys and a birdie before spectacularly pitching in from 106 yards for an eagle-two at the last.

"That was a tough day," he said. "I started out hitting it pretty good and made nothing. Then all of a sudden I lost my ball-striking and made everything for pars.

"I couldn't put the two together and then I made that costly mistake on 10 (where he double-bogeyed).

"At least if the guys come back a little more in this wind, I can get a chance to win this thing," added Woods, who is bidding to end a run of seven majors without a victory.