SLOWLY, VERY slowly, the 109th US Open has sought to eke out a champion. Throughout a stop-start-stop-go championship, the patter of rain drops and the sound of the siren to signal weather delays became more familiar cries than those of the masses of golf fans greeting birdies . . . or eagles. Until yesterday, that is.

Yesterday, after yet more bad weather in the morning forced a near four and a half hour delay before the third round resumed, Ricky Barnes – a player ranked 519th in the world and, before his visit here, in dire danger of losing his playing privileges on tour after a run of horrendous results – and Lucas Glover, an adversary from college days, broke free of the shackles.

Barnes had a roller-coaster third round – one that included an eagle, three birdies and five bogeys – in a 70 for 202, the second lowest 54-hole total in US Open history, to take a one stroke lead over Glover into the final round. David Duval (70 for 207) and England’s Ross Fisher (69 for 207) occupied third place, five shots behind Barnes.

On the rain-softened Black Course which nevertheless left many black and blue, Barnes played with a freshness that recaptured the days when he was golf’s purported next-big-thing after lifting the US Amateur title (in 2002). That star billing never materialised; until now, where we’ve seen the 28-year-old American – the son of a former New England Patriots footballer – finally get to mix it at the very highest level after earning his tour privileges on the secondary Nationwide Tour.

Yesterday, Barnes – who has never had a top-10 finish on the US Tour – made strides towards succeeding Woods as champion but, as many before him have discovered, the road to US Open glory is paved with an uneven surface. At one stage, after eight holes, Barnes had established a six stroke lead over his closest pursuer Glover. However, having gone 42 holes with just one bogey, Barnes stumbled coming in and leaked five bogeys in his last 12 holes.

“I feel like I’m swinging well, doing a lot of things well . . . and one more good round, you never know,” said Barnes. “I think if you don’t have a little bit of nerves when you’re in the heat of competition and especially in the last group, you’re not human.”

Phil Mickeson finished with two birdies in his last three holes for a 69, which lifted him into a top-five position after the third round on 208, two under.

“You just never know whats going to happen (in the final round). If I get a hot round going, I can get a little bit of momentum. Absolutely, I feel like I can make up the difference,” said a gung-ho Mickelson.

Woods, who had a third round 68 for 211, to enter the final round nine shots adrift, remarked of the task ahead of him, “it’s one of those where you have to play a great round of golf and get some help. It’s not totally in my control.”

Graeme McDowell – who completed his third round with a 69 for 210, level par – kept himself very much in the mix, in tied-12th position going in the final round.

“I’ve got a bit of momentum,” agreed the 29-year-old Ulsterman. “I’m hitting it good, hitting it better as the week goes on, and I’ve got to try to screw my head on (before the final round) and go for it.”

McDowell, who had started the week unsure if he was up to the task on a course which he described as “a slog” before a ball was hit in anger, has shown maturity in how he has adapted to the conditions.

“I’ve tried to get my game good enough to the standard where I can compete in these major championships. This (course) is not a true reflection this week. Firm and fast is what we expected and we haven’t got that.

“But I feel like I’m becoming a better player. You measure yourself against these events and the more finishes you can get under your belt the more ready you will be to pick one of these up one day . . . and that’s what I want to do,” said McDowell.

Rory McIlroy shot a third round 72 for 214, four over, which still left him in a position to chase a top-20 finish on his maiden appearance in the championship heading into the final round.

“I probably need a 66 to finish in the top-10,” remarked McIlroy of the task ahead of him. “It’s been a long, hard week. But that’s what majors are supposed to be.”