Phil Mickelson charged into contention while Tiger Woods sustained hope for a record comeback on Sunday at the US Open, both of them aided by fellow American Ricky Barnes squandering a six-stroke lead.
When darkness halted the fourth round of the rain-disrupted tournament at Bethpage Black, the unlikely US duo of Barnes and Lucas Glover shared the lead at seven-under par with 17 holes to finish.
Perth's Michael Sim and fellow Aussie Adam Scott ended the day at four-over, a distant 11 strokes behind the leaders, with Geoff Ogilvy five shots further back.
Barnes has never managed a top-10 PGA finish in six pro seasons while Glover won his only PGA title at the 2005 Disney Classic, but they will be the men to catch when the worst weather-delayed US Open in history resumes on Monday morning (local time).
"Having a lead is obviously the best spot to be in, but anything can happen in the US Open," Mickelson said. "There are a lot of birdies on this course and a lot of bogeys and doubles as well.
"The emotion of the event, the momentum, can change."
Mickelson, in his last event before a break to support wife Amy's fight with breast cancer, shared third on two-under with countrymen David Duval and Hunter Mahan - all through two holes - and England's Ross Fisher, who has completed one.
"If I can get a hot round going I can make up the difference," Mickelson said. "I'm making enough birdies to shoot 5- or 6-under. I'm one good round away."
Mickelson, a three-time major champion, is a four-time US Open runner-up who has never won the event.
Defending champion Tiger Woods, seeking a 15th major crown to move three shy of matching the record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus, had a bogey-birdie start but a birdie at the par-4 seventh in the twilight gloom boosted his title bid.
World No.1 Woods shared eighth on even par, one stroke behind Canada's Mike Weir and seven adrift of the leaders with 11 holes remaining.
Woods, who has never won a major when not at least sharing the 54-hole lead, was nine back after round three and must erase Arnold Palmer's record seven-stroke victory rally in 1960 to capture a record-tying fourth US Open title.
"You have to play a great round of golf and get some help," Woods said. "It is out of my control. All I can control is whether I play a good round or not."
NEW YORK AFP
