Rose and Casey hunting Tiger and Baddeley in wide open US Open

Last updated at 10:07 17 June 2007

Paul Casey and Justin Rose are still in contention to claim the US Open Championship after the duo posted third rounds of 72 and 73 respectively.

The pair ended the day on five over par, three shots behind leader Aaron

Baddeley and one back from Tiger Woods in second place, after the Oakmont course

again proved a tough proposition.

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Tony Jacklin was the last British player to lift the trophy in 1970 at

Hazeltine National GC but Rose is confident he can end the drought with a Sunday

charge despite a disappointing bogey finish.

Playing with Baddeley, the 26-year-old stood four over par on the 18th but

finished with a five to fall into a tie for third on 215.

He had earlier slipped to six over but battled back with birdies at the 13th

and 14th before settling for a 73 after his stumble at the last.

"I'm in the fortunate position to go out there and just chase at it," Rose

said.

"I feel like there are birdies on this course and I'll be enjoying my chances

tomorrow."

Casey was as low as one over after a hot start, birdies at the second and

fourth seemingly indicating he was on his way to repeating his phenomenal round

of 66 on Friday.

It was not to be though as Casey gave two shots back to make the turn in 35 and

recorded three bogeys and one birdie coming in.

However, the man from Weybridge was still satisfied with his endeavours.

"I am quite happy with my round and have to take the positives out of it,"

Casey said.

"It is so tough out there now and the greens have changed since yesterday.

"They are crusty and difficult and there is no way of giving the putts out

there a go."

Australian Baddeley carded his second consecutive round of 70 to finish on 212

after 54 holes, while Tiger Woods recorded his first sub-par round of the

tournament, a one under par 69, and sits on a four-over-par score of 214.

Baddeley was one over par at one point after a birdie at the 13th but he

quickly came back to the pack.

Bogeys at 15 and 16 were followed by more trouble at the 17th when his iron off

the tee came to rest in the rough on the slope of a bunker.

Playing the ball well above his feet, Baddeley managed to find the green and

save par. He then birdied 18 to put what could be a crucial extra stroke between

himself and Woods.

"We talked about after bogeying 16 about getting one or two coming in,"

Baddeley said.

"That birdie was great to carry into tomorrow. I hit three nice shots there so

it was good."

The 26-year-old will need all the positive vibes he can get as he will be in

the final pairing with Woods in attempting to claim his first major

championship.

Woods will be trying to win his 13th major title but Baddeley will be taking no

notice of the world number one during the final 18 holes.

"I can't control what Tiger or Jim Furyk or Justin Rose do and they can't

control what I do," Baddeley said.

"Tiger is the best player in the world but I feel like I'm playing well and my

swing is good.

"I hit a lot of nice shots today and I do feel good with the putter."

Woods was nothing short of brilliant from tee to green, missing only the 18th

green in regulation for his solitary bogey of the day, but he was a little

unfortunate with his putter.

"I felt like I hit the ball pretty good today," Woods said.

"I hit a lot of good putts that grazed the edge but I put myself right there

in the tournament."

Stephen Ames is also at five over par on 215 after a 73, while Americans Steve

Stricker and Jim Furyk are a shot further back on 216 after rounds of 68 and 70

respectively.

Second-round leader Angel Cabrera finished with a 76 and is also at six over

par.