Johnson makes early triple bogey to squander lead at US Open

Johnson makes early triple bogey to squander lead

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Dustin Johnson has made triple-bogey on the second hole to squander his three-stroke lead early in the final round of the U.S. Open.

He went to the third tee box Sunday tied with Graeme McDowell and two shots ahead of Ernie Els and Gregory Havret, both also early in the front nine.

After hitting his approach shot into an awkward lie in a bunker, Johnson had to hit out left-handed. The ball barely squirted out, then Johnson’s fourth shot from the deep grass popped up and moved only about two feet. He missed a 3-foot putt for double bogey and wound up with a 7.

Tiger Woods opened with a three-putt bogey, then made a 15-foot par save on No. 3 to stay at even par. Phil Mickelson opened with a birdie and also was even — three shots off the lead.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Tiger Woods opened the final round of the U.S. Open with a bogey and Phil Mickelson started with a birdie in their pursuit of Dustin Johnson at Pebble Beach.

All the leaders are on the course, with Johnson at 6 under, good for a three-shot lead over Graeme McDowell.

Three-time major winner Ernie Els made a birdie on No. 2 to reach 1 under. Gregory Havret, playing in the same group with Woods, also birdied No. 1 and is tied with Els at 1 under. Mickelson and Woods are both even, early in a round being played under mostly cloudy skies with light winds.

The best rounds of the day thus far belong to Ben Curtis and Jim Herman, each of whom went out early and shot 3-under 68.