Former winners Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk will take a two-stroke joint lead into the final round at the US Open after emerging from a packed leaderboard in Saturday's third round. Ulsterman McDowell emerged from the shadows to win his first major at nearby Pebble Beach two years ago and the California coast was good to him again as he came in with a battling two-under 68.
Furyk, who won his first, and to date only major title, at the 2003 US Open at Olympia Fields near Chicago, had a level-par 70. At one-under 209, they were the only men to duck under par on a pulsating day of quality golf, played on an unforgiving, but fair Olympic Club layout.
McDowell said that he had felt nervous and uncertain of himself early this morning before heading out to the course, but all had fallen into place once his round got underway.
"I was happy that I got myself emotionally in the right place. Probably for the first time this week actually enjoyed the round of golf. It was quite nice out there," he said.