Historic hole key for player who hopes to be ‘California dreamin’

Olympic Club’s 670-yard 16th was playing at 569 yards, but when the first four players tackled it three had bogey sixes and American Jason Bohn ran up a triple bogey eight.

Australian Jason Day, runner-up to Rory McIlroy in Washington last year, was the first to birdie it, while playing partner, Malton’s Simon, Dyson managed a par.

Conditions were cooler and windier as the leaders – headed 2010 champion Graeme McDowell and 2003 winner Jim Furyk on one under par – began their final rounds.

There was also a mist sweeping across from the Pacific Ocean, although it was not expected to hold up play.

It threatened to make an interesting climax into the early hours to what has been a fascinating week.

McDowell has faced pressure situations before – most notably Pebble Beach and Celtic Manor – and emerged not just unscathed, but as a hero.

Yet having nerves of steel still means he gets nervous and how he handled that was key to how he fared late last night on the Pacific coast.

The 32-year-old champion of 2010 entered the day joint leader with American Furyk, the 42-year-old champion of 2003.

They had a two-stroke lead over Swede Fredrik Jacobson, with Worksop’s Lee Westwood among those three back and Tiger Woods still believing he had a chance from five back after his error-ridden 75.

McDowell last night had the chance to be ‘California Dreamin’ and make it an unbelievable three wins in a row by Northern Irish golfers, Rory McIlroy having followed him last year.

Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup match-winner triumphed at Pebble Beach starting the closing 18 holes three behind Dustin Johnson, who crumbled to an 82 in an illustration of what tension can do to people.

McDowell faced his own demons that week – he had been two ahead at halfway – and this one has not been without its uneasy moments as well.

“I remember at Pebble Saturday being a really difficult day for me, mentally and emotionally,” he said after his superb third round 68 at the Olympic Club.

“Today was the same. As I was getting ready to come to the golf course today I felt a little nervous and anxious and really kind of not sure how the day was going to go.

“I spent a little time with my caddie (Ken Comboy) and my team just kind of talking about what we were trying to achieve and got my head screwed back on again.

“I was trying to execute my game plan, get in a relaxed frame of mind and give myself an opportunity. You’ve just got to be unemotional as possible as you can on this golf course. I tried to go out and have two emotions – good emotions and neutral ones – and try to shrug off mistakes.”

Woods said after a third-round 75 that dropped him from first to 14th: “It was frustrating. I struggled on the greens quite a bit - they looked quick, but they putted slow.

“It was just one of those days where I was right in between clubs on about every single shot.

“This is a US Open – you just need to hang around.”

After four hours’ action only three players were under par on the day. American Patrick Cantlay was trying to be low amateur for the second year running, although he had 17-year-old sensation Beau Hossler six strokes ahead of him overnight.

Dyson concluded his US Open challenge with his best round of the week yesterday.

The 34-year-old Malton profressional responded to five dropped shots in the first nine holes whilst out with the early morning starters, to card a 71.

He birdied the 12th, 15th and 17th to post a 13 over par total of 293.

That came after a third successive 74 on Saturday, after he had snuck in to the weekend by virtue of the top 60 dropping towards him among the late starters in the second round.

Just finishing the four rounds will provide enough satisfaction for Dyson who was competing in his first tournament for five weeks having suffered a stress fracture of his pelvis.

US Open debutant Matthew Baldwin – whose caddie is Hallamshire professional Jonathan Smart – was a couple of shots further back towards the end of his final round yesterday, having fired a 73 on Saturday.

Last year’s Masters champion Charl Schwartzel is to rest a rib problem and may not play again until the Open Championship.