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.
USA
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