U.S Open Rd 3 Report:

There were plenty of roars heard around Pebble Beach on Saturday. Roars for Dustin Johnson blitzing his way into the lead with a sizzling 5 under par 66. Roars for Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell who managed to scramble his way to an even par 71 that still kept him in the hunt going into Sunday. But perhaps the loudest roars were reserved for the man who has unfortunately made more news off the golf course than on it this year.

For one day at least, it seemed like the old Tiger Woods was back.

On “moving day” the world number 1 gave the delighted galleries flashbacks of his dominating performance at the same venue in the 2000 U.S Open where he lapped the field by 15 shots. Woods shot a 5 under par 66 to move to -1 for the Championship. His round included 8 birdies over all and a flawless back 9 of 5 under par 31. However, if he is to capture his first major coming from behind on a Sunday, he will have to make up 5 shots on leader Dustin Johnson who also shot a brilliant 66 to lead at -6.

For Bann Lynch Golf player K.J Choi, it was a round of two 9’s. His first 9 of 1 under par 34 had him looking in good shape and still in the hunt. However a horror back nine of 7 over par 43 which included double bogeys at both the par 5s and 3 other bogeys meant Choi carded a 6 over par 77 and finds himself at +7 for the tournament and tied for 23rd.

Australia’s Stuart Appleby had a similar sort of round following an even par first 9 with a 5 over par back 9 to finish with a 76 for the day that leaves him at +12 and tied 64th for the Championship.

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Thanks to Yarra Bend Golf for this article.