Tiger Woods stormed into contention at the U.S. Open with a sizzling back nine on Saturday that put him five shots behind fellow-American Dustin Johnson with one round to go at Pebble Beach.Johnson, who eagled the par-four fourth hole and nearly aced the par-three seventh, claimed a three-shot lead over Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell with birdies on the last two holes for a 66 that matched Woods's brilliant round.The big-hitting Johnson, winner of the last two U.S. PGA Tour stops at Pebble Beach, stood at six-under-par 207 through 54 holes at the famed Pacific coast course."I love playing here," Johnson, 25, told reporters. "Today was a good day. I hit the ball well and made a few putts coming down the stretch."But it was Woods who electrified the Pebble Beach scene with a charge reminiscent of his dominant days, fist-pumping after birdies and manufacturing a spectacular shot at the last hole to finish with three birdies in a row.Woods, who began the day tied for 25th, seven strokes off the pace, overcame two early bogeys to make the turn at level par before a scorching back nine of five-under 31 catapulted him into third place on one-under 212.Showing signs of his old magic, Woods put himself in position to make a run at his 15th major title.After he curled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-three 17th, Woods found himself in a jam at the 18th when his tee shot put him behind a tree on the right side of the fairway.The world number one faded a three-wood around the tree, sending it toward the ocean before bending it onto the green where he two-putted for a third successive birdie."I just kept telling myself get back to even par for the tournament and I'll be right there," Woods said. "I just happened to do one better. It felt good to put it together."Woods's score over the testing back nine at Pebble Beach was more than eight strokes better than the rest of the field averaged over the last nine holes.Johnson lived up to his reputation as a lover of Pebble Beach by leapfrogging McDowell at the close with two birdies while the Briton bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes.Tied for fourth place on level-par 213 were two-time U.S. Open winner Ernie Els of South Africa (72) and unheralded Frenchman Gregory Havret (69).Masters champion Phil Mickelson struggled to a 73 for one-over 214, and 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa of Japan returned a 756 for 216.(Editing by Frank Pingue; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)News posted by www.newsinfoline.com
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