Not so easy for Els

Ernie Els needed all his fighting qualities to make an early move in the third round of the US Open at Pinehurst today.

After a disappointing 76 dropped him nine strokes off the pace at halfway, the 1994 and 1997 champion resumed on seven over par and carved his opening drive into the trees.

He was lucky both to have a line to the green and a swing at the ball, but got it just short of the putting surface and saved his par with a deft chip to three feet.

On the 469-yard second he went over the green, played a weak chip this time, but holed from 18 feet for another four – and then birdied the long fourth to improve to six over.

Colin Montgomerie, who also fell away with a 75 yesterday, made a solid start of three pars to remain seven over, but playing partner Davis Love had an adventurous time.

Love was also in the trees off the first tee, did not make it back onto the fairway, chipped only to the front of the green and then three-putted for a double-bogey six.

At the second he was in a similar spot to Els after two and his 40-foot putt up the slope raced towards the hole, hit the flag and dropped in for a birdie three.

Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell, relieved to be in the event still, were two more of the early starters.

They qualified right on the limit of eight over thanks to David Toms, who finished double bogey, triple bogey after leading and got in under the rule whereby anybody within 10 strokes of the lead stays in the tournament.

McGinley, who was at the airport when he got the news, bogeyed the first and fifth, but did birdie the third to stand nine over, while debutant McDowell was out in a level-par 35 and birdied the 11th to improve his position.

They were all going to be long finished by the time the leaders set off again. Defending champion Retief Goosen shared top spot at two under with little-known Americans Olin Browne and Jason Gore, respectively 300th and 818th in the world rankings.