Justin Rose knows what it takes to win a US Open in difficult conditions and he will be hoping history repeats itself when he tees it up one shot off the lead at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Sunday.
The Englishman claimed victory at this event the last time it was won with an over par total at Merion in 2013 and it looks to be heading that way again, with Rose four over and one back of a leading group of four.
A level par 70 was enough to get the job done on Sunday afternoon five years ago and Rose is fully aware that that score could bring him a second Major Championship on Long Island.
“I love my position,” he said. “I said here yesterday, if I was four back going into tomorrow, I'd love my position. Just being within the right zip code, it gives you a chance tomorrow.
“There's a lot of us in the hunt tomorrow, though, it's a very condensed leaderboard. All great players as well, in and around the lead. It's going to take a special round tomorrow but at least you have the opportunity.”
A combination of very tough pin positions and firm, fast greens dried out by the wind made scoring incredibly difficult on Saturday, with Rose ending the day four shots closer to the lead despite firing a three over par 73.
The second Major of the season prides itself on being one of the very toughest tests in golf and Rose admits it is a different challenge when you are fighting for every par.
“Be careful what you wish for,” he added. “We've all been asking for a real US Open again so I guess we got one for sure this week.
“It's a different kind of fun. We come off pretty much shell-shocked.
“You feel like you're the only one making mistakes - clearly you're not. You always look at the leaderboard and see everyone's struggling. It's hard mentally to keep it together.”
I love my position. Just being within the right zip code, it gives you a chance tomorrow - Justin Rose
Playing partner Henrik Stenson led on his own after turning in 34 but made five bogeys on the back nine as all the leading groups came sliding back to the pack.
That left him two shots off the lead after a 74 and the Swede knows it is still all to play for as he too goes in search of a second Major.
“It's a difficult golf course,” he said. “I expected it to be a difficult week and I guess it's lived up to those expectations and beyond.
“It's not unusual that we end up in these discussions, where the players and fans think it's either too hard or fair or whatever. But it is what it is and I'm pretty happy with the way I played today.
“I was really doing well on the front nine and let a couple go on the back nine and got on a small bogey train on 13, 14 and 15. So that kind of made the day a little bit less good but, all in all, we're still at the races and we've got an outside chance tomorrow.”
