Woodland in the van as US Open swings into home straight

By Rahul Banerji

Gary Woodland and Justin Rose were separated by one bad swing after three tense days in the US Open at California’s Pebble Beach, even as hopes of a Tiger Woods revival continued to recede on Saturday.

With the course playing tougher through the week by all accounts, it will take steady nerves to survive what promises to be a cliff-hanger Sunday.

Lining up behind Kansas native Woodland (-11, 68-65-69) who is yet to win a major, is not just Rose, but also the likes of Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen and pre-tournament co-favourite Brooks Koepka, winner of the last two US Opens.

In fact, four of the five players closes to Woodland – Rose (-10, 65-70-68), McIlroy (-6, 68-69-70), Koepka (-7, 69-69-68)and Oosthuizen (-7, 66-70-70) – are past major champions, though the American remained unfazed.

“My game is in a great spot,” said the 35-year-old, who is yet to win a major. “I’m at a beautiful golf course. I came here to win, and that’s what we’re going out to do tomorrow.

Solid confidence

“I know if I play my game and play like the way I’ve been playing, the guys from behind me are going to have to do something really, really special.

“So I’m going to go out, stay within myself, stick to my game plan and try to extend that lead more than anything.

“The course is firming up. It’s not as receptive as it was early in the week,” Woodland said. “Hopefully I can go out and control myself.”

Closest pursuer and defending FedEx Cup champion Rose battled all the way on Saturday. “The harder the shot, the better I played. I stepped up on certain occasions,” the 38-year-old said later.

“I haven’t had my A game all week, and Sunday might be that kind of day where you have to be as mentally strong as you can.”

Tiger fades away

For Woods (70-72-71), hopes of repeating his 2008 heroics at Pebble Beach are long gone, as are his hopes of either a 16^th major or a record-equalling 82^nd PGA Tour victory. Stranded on level par 213 after three rounds, he has had two forgettable days in a row.

“I got off to a crap start, 2-over through three, and those are the easier holes. And I had to try to fight back and claw out a round today, which I was able to do. I still gave myself a chance for tomorrow, which is positive,” said Woods, who had five birdies against five bogeys on Saturday.

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“We’ll see what the weather forecast is. There are a lot of guys ahead of me right now. Seems like everyone is doing what I was supposed to do earlier which is play 2-under to 4-under par through the first seven.”

Tiger was taped up for Saturday’s round played in chilly weather, needing to fight off the pain of his four back surgeries. “It’s been like that for years,” he said. “The forces have to go somewhere.

“If they’re not in the lower back, they’re in the neck and if not, they’re in the mid-back and if not they go to the knee. You name it.

“My back impacts every shot I play. It’s just part of the deal. I feel every shot I hit. I think that’s always going to be the case from here going forward.”

Also read: Game of Numbers: Will it be 16/82 for Tiger Woods?