Branden Grace remained firmly in the hunt for a first Major Championship as Dustin Johnson took a two shot lead into the back nine during the final round of the US Open Championship.
The pair were part of a four-way tie for the lead going into the last day, along with Australia’s Jason Day and Masters Tournament winner Jordan Spieth.
American Johnson, himself looking for a maiden Major title, played near-flawless golf in a front nine 33 at Chambers Bay that took him to six under par.
Birdies from close range at the fourth and eighth might have been added to but for a miss from inside ten feet on the ninth, and when he did find trouble on the sixth the 30 year old holed from 25 feet for par.
South African Grace, a six-time European Tour winner, bogeyed the fourth from the bunker but held firm and got his reward with a fine tee shot on the ninth which set up a tap-in birdie.
On four under he was alongside playing partner Spieth, the World Number Two fighting back from a three-putt on the opening hole with a gain at the long eighth.
Day, who has been battling vertigo since Friday, had three bogeys and two birdies in an outward 36 and was tied for fourth with compatriot and clubhouse leader Adam Scott, who completed a stunning round of 64.
Asked if that would be enough for victory or a play-off, Scott said: "It's really hard to say. I think the course is set up very short today. I took advantage of that, drove the ball really well and left a lot of short clubs in.
"If one of the guys does that they are not going to have a lot of trouble getting in the house. I am hopeful though."
Scott had more reason for hope when Johnson dropped his first shot of the day on the tenth, dropping him back to five under.
Johnson also bogeyed the 11th and effectively lost another shot on the field when he could only par the short 12th, three-putting from the front edge of the green.
And with Spieth and Grace both having made birdie on the same hole, they assumed the lead on five under par with Johnson a shot behind.
