Casey struggled to rediscover the spark that scored 66 on Friday

The 29-year-old Englishman, three shots off the lead at the start, was eight over for the day at the turn before carding a six-over 76 for 11 over.

"It was just a bad day," he said. "I was very excited about today.

"I think you could see that from the shots I hit on the first four holes or so. I was nervous."

Interview: Paul Casey

Casey and compatriot Justin Rose, who was also three adrift overnight, were bidding to become the first European to win a major since Paul Lawrie's Open title in 1999, and the first European winner of the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

The thing to learn is that you can get bitten very quickly on a golf course like this Paul Casey

And Casey, who fired a stunning 66 in the second round, made a promising start, narrowly missing three birdie putts in his first four holes.

But a first bogey at the 3rd was quickly followed by another at the 5th, a triple-bogey six at the short 6th and three straight bogeys to the turn.

After four pars, he repaired some damage with a birdie on the 14th and handed the shot back on 15 before ending with birdies at 17 and 18.

"The thing to learn is that you can get bitten very quickly on a golf course like this," said Casey. "I have had my good breaks and my bad breaks as well. You need some good breaks to win golf events, especially majors.

"I like to remember some of the holes I have played this week and forget a couple of them but I have made a lot of birdies and clearly I can play well in the US Open."

Rose's challenge sank in similar fashion as he cancelled a bogey at the 1st with a birdie at the 2nd before suffering a double-bogey six at the 3rd.

He showed steel to hit back with a birdie at the 4th but from then on found it all a bit of a struggle and added five more bogeys to end in a tie for 10th with Casey.

"I felt I was just hanging on to be honest," he said. "For some reason my speed on the greens was terrible. I seemed to leave a load short.