22 June,2009 08:40 AM IST | | AFP
The second coming of Ricky Barnes has lit up the US Open and opened up the distinct possibility of one of the biggest upsets in golfing history.
The 28-year-old Californian qualifier had a one-stroke lead over the field after rounds of 67, 65 and 70 when the final round of the rain-hit tournament began yesterday.
England's Ross Fisher, trying to be the first European winner at the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970, and David Duval, the 2001 British Open champion who hasn't won an event in eight years, shared third on 207 with Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan and Canada's Mike Weir on 208.
It is a scenario that no one foresaw coming into Bethpage Black as Barnes was nowhere on the radar and down to a lowly 519th in the world rankings after missing six of 12 cuts this season. His best finish was a tie for 47th at Memphis in the week prior to the year's second major.
"The Nationwide has gotten me ready to play out here and it's humbled me the past four or five years," he said.
"After college I thought I'd be out here right away. I was able to get a lot of exemptions but not much success.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't pissed off the first two or three years, but I've grown up now. I have to be more patient and I'm showing it here."
Tiger Woods shot a third-round 68 to be nine behind leader Barnes.
