Goosen likes view from top

DAVE DUPREY * Associated Press

Retief Goosen fired a 1-under 69 Saturday in the third round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. He has a two-stroke lead heading into today's final round.By Doug Ferguson ~ The Associated Press

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. -- Shinnecock Hills got the best of everyone Saturday -- except the unflappable Retief Goosen.

On a day of survival at the U.S. Open, Goosen kept his poise with two birdies late in the third round that gave him a 1-under 69 -- one of only three rounds under par -- and a two-shot lead over Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els.

Mickelson never lost his loopy grin, despite making double bogey on the impossible par-3 seventh and missing a short putt on the 18th that cost him a spot in the final pairing Sunday.

But the Masters champion did lose his lead, dropping two shots on the final two holes.

Everyone else about lost their mind on a links-styled course that was crusty, firm and made the U.S. Open live up to its reputation as the toughest test in golf.

"From 1 to 10 in difficulty, it's an 11," Els said after a hard-fought 70.

It was tough on Goosen, too, but it was hard to tell. The coolest customer in golf, Goosen recovered from a miniature slide on the back nine with birdies on the 15th and 16th, giving him a chance to win his second U.S. Open in four years.

"I don't know how Retief shot under par," Mickelson said.

Lefty wound up with a 73, his first round over par in the majors this year. Still, he was only two shots back and in good shape to try to capture the second leg of the Grand Slam.

Had Goosen not missed a 5-foot birdie on the 18th, his lead could have been even bigger. Instead, he was at 5-under 205 and will be paired with Els, a fellow South African who is in position to shake his Masters disappointment from losing to Mickelson by one shot.

Shigeki Maruyama, one of five players who had at least a share of the lead at some point, chopped up the 18th and missed a short putt to take double bogey, giving him a 74. He was at 2-under 208, along with Fred Funk (72).

Tiger Woods was one of the few guys who got in the last word, holing out a lob wedge for eagle on the 18th that salvaged his pride, but probably not his chances. Woods shot 73 and was eight shots behind, headed toward an eighth straight major without a trophy.

The last five U.S. Open champions had at least a share of the lead going into the final round, and Goosen is among the toughest frontrunners in golf. He won the '01 U.S. Open at Southern Hills, although the memory still lingers of his three-putt from 12 feet on the final hole that forced a playoff.

Goosen missed a few fairways and took bogeys on the back nine, but he recovered with a solid 15-foot birdie on the 15th and a good up-and-down for birdie on the 16th.

"I feel like I'm ready to get into it Sunday at the U.S. Open," he said.

It sounds like he's ready to rumble, and Shinnecock Hills is sure to put up a hellacious fight.