Barnes out in front at US Open, with first 72-hole Monday finish in 26 years awaiting

Barnes out in front at US Open

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Even a 27-hour break between shots couldn’t slow down Ricky Barnes.

The midway leader of the sopping U.S. Open quickly extended his lead in Sunday’s third round, with a 25-foot putt for eagle at the par-5 4th that pushed him to 11 under and into exclusive company. Only three players in tournament history — Gil Morgan in 1992, Tiger Woods in 2000 and Jim Furyk in 2003 — had ever been double digits below par.

He didn’t stay there for long, making four bogeys in one nine-hole stretch, yet remained two strokes ahead of playing partner Lucas Glover and six up on a group of players that included Phil Mickelson, who shot a 1-under 69.

“If there were 30 people ahead of me, it’d be different. I’d have to go shoot 8, 9, 10 under par to have a chance,” Mickelson said. “There are two. I feel like if I get a hot round going, get a little bit of momentum, absolutely I can make up the difference.”

Woods might not be so optimistic. The world’s best player and defending U.S. Open champion was well back.

Woods missed birdie putts on each of his final three holes, shooting 68 and moving 1 over for the week. He’s never won a major when trailing after three rounds.

Mickelson, though, ended his round with a flourish.

Lefty made a 30-footer for birdie at the 18th, pumping his fist twice. He started the round tied for 12th, and made up much of the deficit on Sunday.

Among other notables: Hunter Mahan shot 68 to getting to 2 under, tied with Mickelson in the clubhouse. Mike Weir, David Duval, Ross Fisher and Sean O’Hair were also 2 under later in their third rounds.

Two-time U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen shot 68, getting to 1 under and tied with Bubba Watson (67).

Barnes, the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion, finished his second round on Saturday morning — long before rain moved in and halted the tournament for the second time. His third round didn’t even begin until Sunday afternoon, and the delay didn’t seem to bother him one bit.

“I got a really good night’s rest,” Barnes said.

He’ll need it. After plenty of rain and two long delays, the champion won’t be crowned until Monday.

“He’s going to be tough to beat,” Mickelson said. “But you never know what’s going to happen in this event.”

Barnes got up early Sunday and was leaving for Bethpage around 6 a.m. when he got the text message saying play — which was originally set to resume at 7:30 a.m. — was pushed back to noon because of overnight rain. The third round restarted 6 minutes ahead of the USGA’s revised schedule.

Weather permitting, the USGA said the final round would begin late Sunday. Light rain had been forecast, but the sun peeked out briefly Sunday afternoon.

It wasn’t enough to get Woods going.

Woods needed a kickstart to his day and might have gotten one at the par-3 17th, his eighth hole of the round, when he missed the green and dropped his club in disgust. No problem — he chipped in from the rough, harkening memories of his chip-in from off the green on the 17th hole in the third round at Torrey Pines on his way to last year’s title.

Alas, this chip-in left the world’s No. 1 player a whopping 14 shots behind Barnes at that point.

There was still a long way to go at Bethpage Black — which more resembles Bethpage Brown, thanks to ankle-deep mud in some of the pedestrian areas.

Monday’s schedule called for play to begin somewhere between 7:30 and 9 a.m. If an 18-hole playoff is required, the USGA will hold that on Monday as well, provided it can begin before 4 p.m.

Only 3 hours, 16 minutes of golf was played on Thursday because of rain, and the backlog has been copious since.

That being said, Barnes might never want this tournament to end.