Goosen in pole position to claim second title

South Africa's Retief Goosen produced one of only three sub-par scores in the third round on Saturday to power his way into a two-stroke lead at the U.S. Open.

The 2001 champion fired a one-under-par 69 for a five-under total of 205 as the rest of the leaders wilted under the pressure of performing under testing conditions at Shinnecock Hills.

Goosen made four birdies, three bogeys and holed important putts when he needed to.

"I felt comfortable out there today, actually quite calm for an Open championship," he told reporters after encountering firm and fast-running conditions in stiffening breezes. "My focusing was pretty good, that helped me stay calm a little bit. And I holed a few par putts, so I'm happy."

Goosen's fellow countryman Ernie Els ended the day as he began it, at three under.

The twice former champion returned three birdies and three bogeys to shoot an even-par 70 and share second place on 207 with U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson.

"You hit good shots, and you like to reward yourself by making the putts," Els said. "I missed a couple but I tried to keep my patience.

"I knew it was going to be tough for everybody. You're not going to shoot very much under par today. I tried to keep it around par or better, and I made a good save to shoot 70 today."

Another South African, Tim Clark, took advantage of the more favourable morning conditions to charge into a share of sixth place with American Jeff Maggert on 209 with a four-under 66, the best round of the day by two strokes.

Clark has never won on the PGA Tour and his best finish in a major came at last year's U.S. PGA Championship when he was third behind winner Shaun Micheel.

"I felt I've just been really a few bogeys away from shooting under par and today I had two bogeys, which is probably the least of all my rounds," said Clark.

Only three South Africans have won the U.S. Open: Goosen, Els in 1994 and 1997, and Gary Player in 1965.