SAN FRANCISCO, June 17: Former champions Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell charged into a share of the lead in the third round of the US Open on Saturday, while Tiger Woods slipped down a congested leaderboard but still has a chance to end his major championship drought.

Furyk, the 2003 US Open winner, put himself in contention for a second major title after shooting an even-par 70 to remain at one-under heading into the final day, which has all the makings of a grandstand finish with more than a dozen players within five strokes of the leading pair.

McDowell, who won the 2010 US Open at nearby Pebble Beach, joined the American at the top after capping his impressive round of 68 with a birdie at the 18th at the Olympic Club.

Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobsen also shot a 68 to finish alone in third, two shots behind the leaders, with England’s Lee Westwood (67), Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts (71), American Blake Adams (70) and South Africa’s Ernie Els (68) a shot further back.

John Peterson (72) had a hole-in-one at the 180-yard 13th to join Webb Simpson (68), Jason Dufner (70), Kevin Chappell (68), Australia’s John Senden (68) and teenage amateur Beau Hossler (70) at three-over.

Woods was tied for 14th at four-over following his 75. He had started the day tied for the lead at one-under with Furyk and David Toms, who fell to five-over after a 76.

Seven different players had a share of the lead at some stage but it was Furyk and McDowell on top at the end of a riveting day’s golf in northern California.

Furyk rebounded from two early bogeys to birdie the 268-yard seventh hole when he got up and down from a greenside bunker and then birdied the par-4 11th when he drained a 12-foot putt.

He dropped another shot on the 16th but two-putted the par-5 17th to get back in red numbers.

Woods, bidding to win his first major in four years, made a terrible start when he bogeyed four of the first eight holes then finished poorly with bogeys in two of his last three holes.

McDowell navigated his way through the treacherous first six holes with a string of pars but dropped a shot on the ninth when he hit his approach into the trees.

The Northern Irishman made amends with birdies on the 10th and 13th holes then picked up another shot at the last when he struck his approach to within five feet of the pin.

Third round scores: 209 — Graeme McDowell (Britain) 69, 72, 68; Jim Furyk (US) 70, 69, 70.

211 — Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 72, 71, 68.

212 — Lee Westwood (Britain) 73, 72, 67; Ernie Els (South Africa) 75, 69, 68; Blake Adams (US) 72, 70, 70; Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) 72, 69, 71.

213 — Webb Simpson (US) 72, 73, 68; Kevin Chappell (US) 74, 71, 68; John Senden (Australia) 72, 73, 68; Beau Hossler (US) 70, 73, 70; Jason Dufner (US) 72, 71, 70; John Peterson (US) 71, 70, 72.

214 — Retief Goosen (South Africa) 75, 70, 69; Martin Kaymer (Germany) 74, 71, 69; Matt Kuchar (US) 70, 73, 71; Tiger Woods (US) 69, 70, 75.

215 — Casey Wittenberg (US) 71, 77, 67; Hunter Hamrick (US) 77, 67, 71; Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 74, 70, 71; Justin Rose (Britain) 69, 75, 71; Sergio Garcia (Spain) 73, 71, 71; Charlie Wi (South Korea) 74, 70, 71; Aaron Watkins (US) 72, 71, 72; Michael Thompson (US) 66, 75, 74; David Toms (US)     69, 70, 76.

216 — Adam Scott (Australia) 76, 70, 70; Scott Langley (US) 76, 70, 70; Kevin Na (US) 74, 71, 71; Raphael Jacquelin (France) 72, 71, 73; Hunter Mahan (US) 72, 71, 73.

217 — Steve LeBrun (US) 73, 75, 69; Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 72, 76, 69; Jordan Spieth (US) 74, 74, 69; Alex Cejka (Germany) 78, 69, 70; Jonathan Byrd (US) 71, 75, 71; Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 70, 75, 72; Steve Stricker (US) 76, 68, 73; Nick Watney (US) 69, 75, 73; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 73, 70, 74; Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 73, 70, 74.

218 — Bob Estes (US) 74, 73, 71; Phil Mickelson (US) 76, 71, 71; Branden Grace (South Africa) 71, 74, 73; Matteo Manassero (Italy) 76, 69, 73; Ian Poulter (Britain) 70, 75, 73.

219 — Patrick Cantlay (US) 76, 72, 71; Rickie Fowler (US) 72, 76, 71; Jeff Curl (US) 73, 75, 71; Francesco Molinari (Italy) 71, 76, 72; Hiroyuki Fujita (Japan) 75, 71, 73; Darron Stiles (US) 75, 71, 73; Morgan Hoffmann (US) 72, 74, 73; Marc Warren (Britain) 73, 72, 74; Alistair Presnell (Australia) 70, 74, 75.

220 — Kevin Streelman (US) 76, 72, 72; Nicholas Thompson (US) 74, 74, 72; Davis Love III (US) 73, 74, 73; Zach Johnson (US) 77, 70, 73; Kim Kyung-tae (South Korea) 74, 72, 74.

221 — Matthew Baldwin (Britain) 74, 74, 73; Rod Pampling (Australia) 74, 73, 74; Keegan Bradley (US) 73, 73, 75; Michael Allen (US) 71, 73, 77; Park Jae-bum (South Korea) 70, 74, 77.

222 — Jesse Mueller (US) 75, 73, 74; Simon Dyson (Britain) 74, 74, 74; Jason Day (Australia) 75, 71, 76.

223 — Jason Bohn (US) 70, 75, 78.

224 — Bo Van Pelt (US) 78, 70, 76; Joe Ogilvie (US) 73, 75, 76.

226 — Stephen Ames (Canada) 74, 73, 79.—Reuters