Jun 21, 2009, 21:50 GMT
Farmingdale, New York - American Ricky Barnes holds a one- shot lead going into the final round of the US Open after another strong performance on Sunday.
The 28-year-old fired a third-round 70 to be 8-under-par, one shot clear of his fellow American Lucas Glover, with a gap of four shots to the next men, former Open champion David Duval and young Englishman Ross Fisher.
After yet more rain on Sunday morning, the tournament will not finish until at least Monday, but all the players will get some of their final round in later on Sunday night.
A bogey at the final hole halved Barnes's lead and both he and Glover will have to deal with the pressure of being in front in a major, the first time they have been in such a position.
Phil Mickelson is not out of it on 2-under-par, while two-time former champion Retief Goosen is on 1-under, but Tiger Woods will have to come from nine shots back if he is to make a successful defence of his title.
'I was consistent, I was hitting the ball well but I have been all week,' Woods said. 'I'm gonna have to shoot a low one and probably get some help, so it's not all in my control. All I can do is try and shoot low and see what happens.'
Mickelson holed a monster putt on the last to finish with a 69 and keep himself in contention and something low in the final round could put the pressure on the leading pair.
Glover admitted he struggled a little on the front nine but he rallied strongly on the back and said he would try to remain calm in the final round.
'Patience was the name of the game starting the week,' he said. 'I had to use that again today. Hopefully I can carry the momentum into the final round.'
Fisher endured another difficult day with the putter but his all- round game was superb and at 3-under he is well-placed.
'In a word, my green play was shocking today,' he said, after birdieing the last hole.
'There was big relief on 18 when that one dropped, I felt like I was owed a few. Unfortunately I was hitting it close but 37 putts and one under - if I could hit 30 putts...
'But I came here with the intention of winning this and I still believe I can.'
Former world No 1 Duval continued what has been a superb return to form with another solid round and is alongside Fisher on 3-under, helped by two birdies in the last three holes.
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