Barnes still leads ahead of final round

Barnes shot a third-round 70 to stay at eight under par through 54 holes, one clear of compatriot Lucas Glover and five ahead of England's Ross Fisher and American David Duval as the 60-man field prepared to make a quick turnaround and head back out to get the final round under way.

As the second major of the year headed for a first 72-hole Monday finish since 1983, Barnes had threatened to set more records after shooting the lowest 36-hole total in US Open history, 132, after a 65 on Saturday.

The American, playing his first full year on the PGA Tour in his seventh year as a professional, held a six-shot lead at 10 under par at the turn and was going the right way about emulating 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis in making his maiden professional victory a major success.

A long-range eagle putt at the fourth hole had sent the 28-year-old to 11 under par, the first man to move into double digits at the US Open since Jim Furyk in the third round at Olympia Fields en route to his victory in 2003.

Bogeys at the seventh and then the long and difficult par-fours at 10 and 12 as Glover birdied the 10th and 11th saw Barnes' lead slip to two shots at eight under.

Although he sank a 25-foot birdie putt at 17, he gave the shot back at the last, producing a great shot out of thick greenside rough only to miss from five feet.

Fisher finished strongly, the Englishman sinking a 10-foot birdie putt at 18 for a 69 to move to three under ahead of the final round, which will see him play with Duval, who also closed with a birdie for a 70 to join him in a tie for third.

Defending champion Tiger Woods began his day 11 shots behind Barnes's overnight lead and bogeyed the 14th, his fifth of the day, to fall 14 shots off the pace.

Woods made amends to the delight of his huge gallery when he chipped in from the rough at the par-three 17th, his eighth, and the world number one sent down back to back birdies at his 12th and 13th holes to reach one over.