Monday finish looming as rain halts US Open

Heavy rain brought the third round of the US Open to an early end on Saturday. It also put a dampner on Graeme McDowell's hot start.

The Ulsterman was nine shots behind Ricky Barnes when he resumed from the 10th tee with Jim Furyk on 1-over. He parred that hole thanks to a superb bunker shot from the right greenside trap and then birdied the 12th and 14th to get to 1-under par for the championship.

But his mini charge ended on the 15th - Heartbreak Hill - when he missed the fairway left, put his second in the bunker short left of the green and thinned his next shot onto the fringe and took three to get down after chipping 15 past the hole.

A push tee shot onto the trodden down area right of the 16th left him facing a tough second but he was saved by three sharp toots on the hooter as torrential rain flooded greens.

Rory McIlroy was 10 off the pace when he resumed with Anthony Kim on two over. He parred the first two holes and then saved a brilliant four at the 12th, where he had to chip backwards on the fairway from the right round. A 220 yard approach to 25 feet was followed by a brilliant par putt and he then parred the 13th despite only hacking his second 20 yards forward from the rough to remain on two over.