Golf – US Open Update:In a tournament that seemingly knows no end, the two Irishmen who made the cut, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, and the leaders finally managed to complete their third rounds at the weather-delayed US Open at Bethpage Black in a sodden New York.

McDowell carded his second 69 of the week to get back to level par for the tournament. The 29-year-old enjoyed four birdies in his round, including a pair of twos on the back nine at the 14th and 17th.

McIlroy was four shots further back on four-over after today’s third round 72. The 20-year-old dropped shots fifth, sixth, 15th and 17th but managed birdies at the first and fourth.

Since then McIlroy got his final round under way and after starting at the 10th he picked up an early birdie at the 11th to get back to three-over for the tournament.

Overnight leader Ricky Barnes remains the man they all have to catch as the PGA Tour rookie appears to be showing no signs of nerves in such a lofty position and with so much at stake.

With the second major of the year heading for a first Monday finish since 1983, Barnes looks as though he would play all week if necessary.

The American carded a third round 70 for a three round aggregate of eight-under 202. That was good enough to remain one shot ahead of his nearest challenger and compatriot Lucas Glover, who also carded a 70.

Although Barnes will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the US Open, it could have been so much better for the American at Bethpage Black.

Barnes is 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 yesterday.

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 at the midway point of his third round and 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, 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, which will see him play with Duval, who also closed with a birdie for a 70 to join him in a tie for third.

"It's still a new experience for me," Fisher said. "It's the US Open, it's a major.

"So any time you can put yourself into contention and turn around and look at that leaderboard and see your name there, you're doing something right.

"So fingers crossed, I can continue to do that for the rest of the evening and hopefully when we get back out there tomorrow and keep my name on that leaderboard, and who knows, try and climb up it a little bit higher."

Canada's Mike Weir fell back to two under with a 74, where he was met coming the other way by American duo Hunter Mahan, with a 68, and world number two Phil Mickelson, who delighted his big following of fans by sinking a 38-foot birdie putt at the 18th for a 69.

Two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen shot a second 68 in a row and Bubba Watson carded a 67 for both to get to one-under, with Sweden's Peter Hanson and Americans Sean O'Hair and Todd Hamilton.

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.

Sergio Garcia of Spain went over par for the first time all week when he shot a 72, while Lee Westwood's US Open dreams took a knock when the Bethpage Black course bit back.

Westwood had shot a second-round 66 to get to two-under at the halfway stage and two more birdies in his third round had him at four under after four holes.

But five bogeys and a double bogey around a birdie at the eighth saw Westwood fall back to two over after a 74.

USGA officials were still confident of beginning the final round later today and of finally getting the tournament finished tomorrow, providing they avoided further stoppages.

“The forecast for the afternoon is relatively good,” Mike Davis, the USGA Senior Director of Rules and Competitions, said.

“We could see some light showers but they are not thinking thunderstorms or anything heavy.

“So if that’s the case, we will play as long as we can.

“We will resume round four at some time tomorrow morning, that is yet to be determined, and then if we have a play-off it would go sometime tomorrow afternoon.”

Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke both missed the halfway cut.