US unless stated -5 Retief Goosen (SA) -3 Ernie Els (SA), Phil Mickelson -2 Fred Funk, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) -1 Tim Clark (SA), Jeff Maggert Even Mike Weir (Can) Clubhouse scores Third round photos

The 2001 champion from South Africa picked up birdies at the 15th and 16th to card a one-under-par 69 and a 54-hole total of five under.

Two shots behind are Masters champion Phil Mickelson and world number two Ernie Els.

One shot further back are overnight co-leader Shigeki Maruyama and American veteran Fred Funk.

The 35-year-old Goosen said: "I felt comfortable out there, actually quite calm for an Open championship.

"I putted very nicely and that kept me in the thick of things. But some of those holes played really tough."

Mickelson, the crowd favourite, finished bogey-bogey for a three-over 73, while playing partner Maruyama double-bogeyed the last for a 74.

Anybody that's even par has a very good chance, it depends on the conditions Ernie Els Quotes of the day

Mickelson, 34, had shared the lead with three to play but the trusty putting stroke that carried him into the lead here and at Augusta in April failed him.

"I'm really enjoying this. I think the short game is going to play a hugh factor in tomorrow's winner," said Mickelson.

Els, a rival of Goosen's from their amateur days in South Africa, mixed three birdies with three bogeys on a day of high-scoring at Shinnecock Hills.

The 34-year-old Els, who won this tournament in 1994 and 1997, said: "It's borderline fair.

"Players like to whinge but what I shot today I've got to be happy with. If I can do that tomorrow I'll be in with a chance.

"Anybody that's even par has a very good chance, it depends on the conditions."

After two days without wind at the Long Island links, the breeze picked up on "moving day" and the scoring went through the roof.

The windier conditions were only part of the problem, however, as treacherous pin positions coupled with the hard-baked greens made it a case of holding on to your score rather than building on it.

If tomorrow blows and the pins are as tough as today we will still be putting Sergio Garcia Garcia saves Europe's face

Apart from Goosen, the only other two players to beat par were another South African, Tim Clark, and American Charles Howell III.

Clark's remarkable four-under-par 66 took from a middle of the pack position to a tie for sixth with Jeff Maggert only four shots off the lead.

One stroke behind them is 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, while Sergio Garcia, flying the flag for Europe, and Corey Pavin, the champion the last time the US Open was played at Shinnecock Hills in 1995, complete a high-quality top 10.

One big name notable by his absence from the top of the leaderboard is Tiger Woods, and that is despite a pitch-in eagle from 106 yards at the last.

Even with that stroke of fortune, the 28-year-old American could only manage a three-over 73 to be four over the tournament and he will lose his world number one status if Els wins and he finishes outside the top six.