McDowell scales Pacific heights

Golf:What is it about the ocean air coming in off the Pacific that so stimulates Graeme McDowell? Just two years after claiming the US Open trophy at Pebble Beach, the Ulsterman – playing with robotic rhythm and a steely fortitude – claimed a share of the 54-hole lead with American Jim Furyk in the 112th edition of the championship at the Olympic Club.

McDowell shot a third round 68 and Furyk a 70 to finish on 209, one-under-par. The duo were the only players to reach the three-quarter point of the season’s second Major sub-par, with Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson again reserving his best play for majors alone in third spot – two behind – and given the role as chief pursuer.

Three-time Major champion Pádraig Harrington was self-critical of his play with wedge and short irons in his hand, as the Dubliner shot a third round 71 for 215 that left him in tied-18th place going into the final round. And 14-times Major champion Tiger Woods floundered to a 75, for 214, after a frustrating round on the greens.

For McDowell, though, it was another controlled round off the tee and around the greens. When he had to grind it out, he did. Most notably on the long Par 4 fifth, where he made a par save from a greenside trap, and on the sixth, when he pitched dead after his approach ran into tangly rough at the back of the green. On the Par 3 eighth, he again made a great sand save.

McDowell reeled off eight straight pars before dropping a shot on the Par 4 ninth, where he blocked his tee-shot into trees down the right and did well to salvage a bogey. The effect of that loose tee-shot was to act as a wake-up call, and he covered the back nine in three-under with birdies on the 10th, 13th and a closing birdie on the 18th.

Of the support he got, with a huge number of Irish in the crowds, he said: “There might be more Irishmen out here than there are in Ireland . . . . but I got great support in the crowd. And I enjoyed interacting with them and having a bit of fun.”

McDowell’s first major win came at Pebble Beach two years ago when he trailed Dustin Johnson by two strokes heading into the final round. This time, the Northern Irishman shares the lead with Furyk, who he played with for the first two rounds here.

“Jimmy is the kind of guy that gets on with his own business and doesn't have much to say.I've played with Jim many times.I know him well.I don't think there will be a huge amount of talk out there (in the final round). It's down to business. We both want to win, as do a lot of guys.”

Furyk’s only major win came in the US Open at Olympia Fields outside Chicago in 2003 and, with his putter working, has looked very much in control of his own game for the first three rounds. Of playing alongside McDowell for a third time in the championship, he said: “I like Graeme a lot.I have a lot of respect for him and his game.I enjoyed playing with him Thursday and Friday.I enjoy playing golf with him. I think it's a great pairing.”

If Harrington is to claim a fourth major title, he will have to do something special. As he acknowledged: “I’m very disappointed. I couldn’t have played better, to be honest. I’m just not dialling in the numbers on my wedges at all. Then, I didn’t putt very well. That could have easily been a 67 or something and I’d be sitting there, going out tomorrow not thinking I’ve got to shoot the lights out.”

Woods, who came from four shot back in the final round to win at the Memorial two weeks ago, admitted to frustration – especially on the greens – in his third round. And, although five strokes back of the joint-leaders, didn’t rule out a final day charge: “It’s just patience. It’s just (getting) a few birdies here and there. It’s not like where you have to go out there and shoot 62 and 63. This is a US Open. You just need to hang around.First you need to get off to a good start, get through the first six. Because anything can happen at the last three holes.”

McDowell, for his part, is intent on keeping alive the remarkable sequence of winners from Northern Ireland. He started the trend in Pebble Beach. Rory McIlroy continued it at Congressional last year.

And, now, McDowell has a very live chance to continue the sequence. As he quipped, the US Open could be renamed “The Northern Irish Open” if he were to carry it off.