Mickelson, Ferrie tied for lead at US Open

MAMARONECK, New York, June 18 (Reuters) Phil Mickelson made a pair of birdies during a charging finish on the back nine at stingy Winged Foot to tie Briton Kenneth Ferrie for the lead after three rounds of the US Open.

While other contenders struggled to match par, birdies at the 14th and 16th holes enabled Masters champion Mickelson to post a one-under-par 69 for a two-over 212 total.

Ferrie, a 27-year-old Englishman, played an admirably steady round as he protected a one-shot lead he took on the strength of a tap-in eagle at the 515-yard, par-five fifth.

A bogey at the last, where Ferrie's five-foot par putt failed to fall, dropped the Briton back to two over par for the tournament and 71 for the day.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy shot a two-over-par 72 to stand one stroke off the pace at 213, two shots better than Britons Colin Montgomerie (75) and Ian Poulter (70), Vijay Singh of Fiji (70) and American Steve Stricker (76), the overnight leader.

Mickelson, gunning for his third consecutive major title following his victories in the PGA Championship and the Masters, will be paired with Ferrie, playing in his first major in the United States.

''This is my first time in this position in a major championship,'' said Ferrie. ''And it's going to be a little daunting going into tomorrow.'' Mickelson said he was looking forward to the final round.

''It's a lot of fun to have a chance,'' he said. ''I have a lot of work left to do.'' Mickelson said he was not that familiar with Ferrie, but expected a good battle.

''He's in the final group of the U.S. Open so he's got to be a good player,'' said world number two Mickelson.

REUTERS PDS RAI0629