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Furyk takes the lead as Woods loses hope
Illinois, June 15: Jim Furyk sank a curling 25-foot birdie putt at the last to forge three strokes clear in the U.S. Open third round on Saturday, as Tiger Woods`s title defence was left in tatters.
Illinois, June 15: Jim Furyk sank a curling 25-foot birdie putt at the last to forge three strokes clear in the U.S. Open third round on Saturday, as Tiger Woods's title defence was left in tatters.
The 33-year-old Furyk, co-leader overnight with Vijay Singh, carded a three-under-par 67 after mixing five birdies with two bogeys at a sun-drenched Olympia Fields.
Woods, bidding this week for a third U.S. Open crown in four years, dropped out of contention with a five-over-par 75 after a fan put him off his second shot at the par-five first.
Furyk, who possesses one of the most unorthodox swings in the game, finished at 10-under 200 on a day when most of the 68-strong field struggled to maintain any momentum.
Twice major winner Singh, who became the fourth player in U.S. Open history to card a 63 on Friday, bogeyed the last three holes for a 72, slipping back into a tie for third at five-under 205 with Nick Price (69).
Former world number one Price, after a sizzling start featuring five birdies in the first six holes, stumbled round the turn but also managed to birdie the last in his quest to win a fourth career major title.
Australia's Stephen Leaney, who like Furyk birdied the 18th, vaulted into second place with a gutsy 68 while American journeyman Dicky Pride, whose 66 was the best round of the day, ended up in a share of fifth at four-under 206.
Defending champion Woods, four under overnight after a second-round 66, endured a frustrating day. His title hopes all but disappeared as he dropped six shots, with a solitary birdie at the par-four 14th, and he finished at one-over 211.
Woods had hit a perfect drive at the 576-yard opening hole, but then pushed his approach into the right front bunker as the spectator whistled on his backswing.
After growling in the direction of the offending fan, he splashed out to 15 feet but was unable to sink the birdie putt. He dropped his first shot of the day at the par-four fifth, where he hit his approach through the back of the green, another on nine, where he lipped out from six feet, and ran up his third bogey at the 444-yard 10th. He was never able to recover after that.
Most of the early fireworks came from Price, who had fired a five-under-par 65 on Friday (June 13) to vault into contention. He hit approaches to eight and 10 feet on one and two, and then struck his second shot to six feet at the 389-yard third for birdie number three, tying overnight pacesetters Singh and Furyk for the lead.
At the 164-yard fourth, he rifled his tee shot to eight feet, and coolly rolled in the birdie putt to snatch the outright lead.
He salvaged his par from a greenside bunker on five and collected a two-putt birdie at the 555-yard sixth before running up his first bogey of the day at the 212-yard seventh, where his tee shot plugged in a bunker.
Pride, who began the day at level par after opening rounds of 71 and 69, reeled off four birdies in seven holes on his way to a four-under-par 66. But the 33-year-old American is happy enough just to be playing at Olympia Fields after being sidelined for four months last year with pancreaitis before having his gall bladder removed.
Bureau Report
Former world number one Price, after a sizzling start featuring five birdies in the first six holes, stumbled round the turn but also managed to birdie the last in his quest to win a fourth career major title.
Australia's Stephen Leaney, who like Furyk birdied the 18th, vaulted into second place with a gutsy 68 while American journeyman Dicky Pride, whose 66 was the best round of the day, ended up in a share of fifth at four-under 206.
Defending champion Woods, four under overnight after a second-round 66, endured a frustrating day. His title hopes all but disappeared as he dropped six shots, with a solitary birdie at the par-four 14th, and he finished at one-over 211.
Woods had hit a perfect drive at the 576-yard opening hole, but then pushed his approach into the right front bunker as the spectator whistled on his backswing.
After growling in the direction of the offending fan, he splashed out to 15 feet but was unable to sink the birdie putt. He dropped his first shot of the day at the par-four fifth, where he hit his approach through the back of the green, another on nine, where he lipped out from six feet, and ran up his third bogey at the 444-yard 10th. He was never able to recover after that.
Most of the early fireworks came from Price, who had fired a five-under-par 65 on Friday (June 13) to vault into contention. He hit approaches to eight and 10 feet on one and two, and then struck his second shot to six feet at the 389-yard third for birdie number three, tying overnight pacesetters Singh and Furyk for the lead.
At the 164-yard fourth, he rifled his tee shot to eight feet, and coolly rolled in the birdie putt to snatch the outright lead.
He salvaged his par from a greenside bunker on five and collected a two-putt birdie at the 555-yard sixth before running up his first bogey of the day at the 212-yard seventh, where his tee shot plugged in a bunker.
Pride, who began the day at level par after opening rounds of 71 and 69, reeled off four birdies in seven holes on his way to a four-under-par 66. But the 33-year-old American is happy enough just to be playing at Olympia Fields after being sidelined for four months last year with pancreaitis before having his gall bladder removed.
Bureau Report