Gary Woodland is in a place he has never been before, leading a major championship heading to the final round.
The 35-year-old Woodland, seeking his first title in the Grand Slam events, carded a 2-under-par 69 and holds a one-stroke lead over Justin Rose of England after 54 holes of the 119th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links http://www.pebblebeach.com.
“I’m really excited to be where I am heading into tomorrow,” said Woodland, whose best result in a major was a tie for sixth in the PGA Championship last year at Bellerive. “I’m really comfortable with my game right now. I made a bunch of birdies a couple weeks ago in the Memorial, but also had some bogeys, and I’ve just tightened things up.
“The golf course is in great shape and it just fits my eye. I just slowed things down out there and controlled myself out there today. Rosie and I are great buddies and it will be great to go out there tomorrow and have fun again.”
Woodland, who has won three times on the PGA Tour, posted the third-best 54-hole score in U.S. Open history at 11-under 202.
The fourth-ranked Rose, whose only major title came in the 2013 U.S. Open at Oakmont, sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole to cap a 68 after Woodland missed an 11-footer moments before.
“I’m reading the greens really well,” said Rose, who claimed is 24th pro victory earlier this year in the Farmers Insurance Open. “It was a fun day, obviously. Gary played some great golf. We just kept grinding and made some birdies out there.
“The course got firmer and there’s going to be more of that tomorrow. I just want to keep doing what’s working. It’s going to take focus, confidence, discipline and a little bit of luck, making that big putt at the right time.”
Top-ranked Brooks Koepka, trying to become the second player to win three straight U.S. Opens, shot a bogey-free 69 and is four shots back in a tie for third with Chez Reavie, who also had a 68, and Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, the 2010 Open champion at St. Andrews, who made three straight birdies late in a 70.
Said Kopeka: “I just enjoy the pressure of having to hit a great shot or make a putt, and I’m playing well. I just want to stay patient because anybody within three shots on the back nine tomorrow will have a chance to win.”
Third-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, a four-time major champion, is five back in solo sixth after a 70, while Matt Kuchar and Chesson Hadley are one more down in a tie for seventh after both also totaled 70.
Danny Willett of England, the 2016 Masters champion, shot 67 and is tied for ninth with Graeme McDowell (70) of Northern Ireland, who won the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble, 2016 Open champion Henrik Stenson (70) of Sweden, Jon Rahm (70) of Spain and Matt Wallace (71) of England.
Tenth-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State is tied for 14th after a 71, while second-ranked Dustin Johnson and seventh-ranked Francesco Molinari of Italy are in a tie for 17th after both totaled 71.
Fifth-ranked Tiger Woods, a three-time U.S. Open champion, shot 71 and is tied for 27th, ninth-ranked Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis is tied for 48th following a 73, and Phil Mickelson saw his bid to complete the Career Grand Slam with a victory this week disappear and is tied for 48th after a 75.
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