Johnson holds firm at US Open

Dustin Johnson was battling to hold on to his lead in the third round of the US Open at Oakmont on Saturday as a posse of big guns led by Jason Day and Jordan Spieth tried to reel him in.

The 31-year-old American, who has come close at majors on several occasions in the past but failed to nail one down, was one clear of the field at four-under when the delayed round started.

He was under immediate pressure as world number one Day rolled in a long birdie putt at his opening hole, the 10th, and added three in a row at 12, 13 and 14 to jump from five-over at the start of the round to one-over.

Spieth birdied 11, 12 and 13 before a bogey at 14 put him two-over for the tournament.

Johnson though was not to be undone and he hit his opening approach at the first to three feet and made the putt to get to five under.
He then had a huge stroke of luck when his wayward drive at the second hit a spectator on the head, bounced under a concession kiosk and he was awarded a drop.

Johnson then hit his approach onto a steep bank around the green and almost made the delicate chip for a birdie.

But he messed up his approach to the third and took a double-bogey at almost the same moment as veteran Englishman Lee Westwood sunk his approach at the short par-four fifth for an eagle, his second hole-out of the week.

That made it a three-way tie for the lead at three under, grouping Johnson, Westwood and American Andrew Landry who had been the first-round leader.

Johnson rebounded with a birdie at the par-five fourth to move back into sole possession of the lead, while  Ireland's Shane Lowry and Sergio Garcia of Spain made it a three-way tie for third with Westwood dropping one. 

- Big shock for McIlroy -
The big shock early on was that four-time major winner Rory McIlroy failed to make the cut for the first time at a major in three years.

The 2011 US Open champion went out in 31 and looked poised for a charge, but he inexplicably fell apart on his back nine, a 40 giving him a 71 and at eight-over he was on his way home.

Other notable casualties of the cut were six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson, who saw his dream of clinching a career sweep of all four majors once again shattered, 2013 champion Justin Rose and an out-of-form Rickie Fowler who ended at 11-over.
A total of 67 golfers ducked under a six-over cut mark inflated by the toughness of the Pennsylvania course and the bad weather that played havoc with the schedule on Thursday.

With the leaders going out at 5:01pm (21:01 GMT), there was little chance that the third round would be completed by the time the light faded.

That would leave the leaders to finish their rounds early Sunday, clearing the way for the final 18 holes. 

Source: AFP