SOUTHAMPTON, June 20: Former champion Retief Goosen battled his way into a one-shot lead in the US Open third round on Saturday as Shinnecock Hills presented its stiffest test of the week.

South African Goosen, winner in 2001 at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, held his nerve in challenging conditions to card a one-under-par 69, finishing at five-under 205.

Smooth-swinging Goosen lost ground with dropped shots on 13 and 14 but got back to five under with birdies on 15 and 16. US Masters champion Phil Mickelson, co-leader overnight with Japan's Shigeki Maruyama, dropped shots at the last two holes for a 73, and a share of second place with twice winner Ernie Els, who returned a 70.

Maruyama, who double-bogeyed the last, returned a 74 to tie for fourth at two under with 48-year-old Fred Funk. American Funk dropped three shots over the last five holes for a 72.

Best round of the day was a four-under 66 by South Africa's Tim Clark, who took advantage of more favourable conditions in the morning to vault into a tie for sixth. World number one Tiger Woods battled to a three-over 73 as most of the field struggled on a firm and fast-running Shinnecock layout in stiffening breezes.

Saturday is traditionally termed 'Moving Day' at the majors, and it was no different at the 104th US Open on the eastern end of New York's Long Island. Although there was little wind in the morning for the third day in a row, the rock-hard fairways and heavily contoured greens provided a daunting challenge as they dried out in bright afternoon sunshine.

Mickelson, bidding to become the sixth player in golfing history to win the first two majors of the year, surrendered the lead with three dropped shots in the first seven holes.

He missed the fairway off the tee at the fourth and was unable to salvage par after hacking out his second shot from thick rough. Worse was to come, though, at the treacherous par-three seventh where he ran up a double-bogey five. His tee shot there ran through the back of the green and, after chipping back, he three-putted.

Although he birdied both par-fives, the fifth and 16th, to draw level with Goosen at five under, he fell back with a bogey at the par-three 17th, where he was bunkered off the tee.

Woods, one over at the start of the day, experienced a rollercoaster day. He collected a double-bogey, four bogeys and a birdie before spectacularly pitching in from 106 yards for an eagle-two at the last.

Third round scores (a-denotes amateur):