Published Sunday, 17 June 2012
Graeme McDowell tees off at the 1st hole during the third round of the US Open (© Getty)
The 32-year-old Portrush golfer birdied the final hole of his third round for a superb 68 at the Olympic Club on Saturday.
McDowell was a winner at Pebble Beach two years ago and he is now bidding to make it a third Northern Irish win in a row following his own success and Rory McIlroy's victory last year.
McDowell followed eight opening pars with a bogey on the 449-yard ninth on Saturday.
He holed putts of four feet on the 10th, 10 feet at the short 13th and then another four-footer on the last.
McDowell said: "The ninth was a wake-up call. I realised my swing was getting quick and snatchy.
"Then the save on the 12th was huge. I thought I was in the bushes over the green, but making four spurred me on.
I am firing pretty much on all cylinders. The key is not looking at leaderboards.
Graeme McDowell
"It's not just me and Jim. There are a lot of guys who can win."
Furyk shot a rollercoaster 70. He bogeyed the first and fifth, birdied the seventh and 11th, took six on the 670-yard 16th, then two-putted the 522-yard 17th for his third birdie.
Meanwhile halfway joint leader Tiger Woods gave a really poor performance in his pursuit of a 15th major, with a five-over-par 75 which made him dropped into a tie for 14th.
Woods said: "It was frustrating. I struggled on the greens quite a bit - they looked quick, but they putted slow.
"It was just one of those days where I was right in between clubs on about every single shot.
"I'm just going to have to shoot a good round, post early and see what happens.
"It's not like where you have to go out there and shoot 62 and 63. This is a US Open - you just need to hang around.
"I'm definitely still in the ball game. I'm only five back and that's certainly doable on this golf course for sure."