Baddeley leads US Open

Baddeley's third-round effort, which included five birdies and five bogeys, was bettered by only Steve Stricker and Woods. The 26-year-old is two strokes ahead of the world number one, with Stephen Ames, Paul Casey, Justin Rose and Bubba Watson all on five over par in a tie for third.

Baddeley was at one over and two shots clear of the field after a birdie at 13 but bogeys at 15 and 16 were followed by more trouble at the 17th when he found the rough on a bunker slope off the tee. But he found the green and saved par before a birdie at the 18th saw him level for the day.

Woods carded his first sub-par round of the tournament, a one-under-par 69, to finish four over. In search of his third US Open title, Woods was nothing short of brilliant from tee to green, missing only the 18th in regulation for his only bogey of the day, but never mastered his putter.

He said: "I felt like I hit the ball pretty good today. I hit a lot of good putts that grazed the edge but I put myself right there in the tournament."

English duo Casey and Rose also kept themselves in contention with battling rounds of 72 and 73 respectively. Casey shot a 66 on Friday and was as low as one over after a hot start. he birdied the second and fourth and looked like he might repeat his phenomenal second-round performance.

It was not to be though as Casey gave two shots back to make the turn in 35 before recording three bogeys and one birdie coming in.

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

Playing with Baddeley, Rose was at four over on the 18th but bogeyed the hole to fall into a tie for third at 215. He had 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.

Canadian Stephen Ames is in at five over after a 73 and Americans Stricker and Jim Furyk are at six over par after rounds of 68 and 70, respectively. Second-round leader Angel Cabrera finished with a 76 and is also at 216.