RETIEF Goosen today stands on the cusp of his third US Open victory in five years, a feat only previously bettered by Ben Hogan, who did it in four in the 1950s.

A brilliant recovery over the most difficult holes of Pinehurst No 2 gave him a three shot lead over the field and, most significantly, six over Tiger Woods.

Father's Day is always an event of huge significance in America, and this morning, as he always does at the US Open, Woods will call the man he calls Pop. It is a matter of regret to both that Earl Woods was not well enough to be at Pebble Beach in 2000, or at Bethpage in 2002, when his son won his two previous titles.

Nor has the elder Woods, who has prostate cancer, been here in North Carolina, to watch Tiger's attempt to win his 10th Major, and second leg of a Grand Slam. But despite his illness, this morning father and son will discuss Tiger's game plan hole by hole, and as ever Earl will tell him: "Take care of business like you always do." Unfortunately for the most formidable firm in golf, the business end of America's national championship is not in their hands, but instead in the seemingly unflappable mitts of the defending champion, Goosen.

Despite a serious blip on the back nine, when he dropped three shots in two holes, the defending champion displayed marvellous resolve to birdie the next two and then, with a putt from off the green at the last to give him a 69, slam close a door which had been opening for Woods and the rest of the pack.

At the end of an enthralling day, the defending champion will play today's final round with a contender who is not so much an outsider as, in these rarified circles, a man from another planet. Jason Gore, a Nationwide Tour player, will have the chance to fulfill the fantasy of journeymen everywhere.

The persistent Olin Browne is, like Gore, three shots behind Goosen, with the Australasian duo of Michael Campbell and Mark Hensby a shot further back.

In the circumstances that he finds himself in, after a third round 72, Woods will have no option but to tell his father that the game plan is to attack and take risks on a course which is no respecter of reputations and has ruthlessly punished the slightest error.

If he produces one of the rounds of his career and wins here no sane person would bet against Woods following up at St Andrews next month at the Open, but the odds are now stacked against a calendar Grand Slam.

Asked if he could produce a 66 or 67, Woods replied: "It's a great stage to be able to shoot one of those, but it's going to be hard to do that. It's just really, really difficult out there."

Until the 12th and 13th holes, Goosen had continued to do what he does best at US Opens - avoid making mistakes, and when they happen apply sublime skill to rectify them. But a bogey, followed by a double, took him back to the pack. It looked ominous, with the most difficult holes on the course to follow, but incredibly he followed up with successive birdies to move back into the driving seat. The putt from off the green at the last was no more than his courage deserved.

"We all said at the start that nobody would end the championship under par, but if I play solidly tomorrow I've got a chance of doing that, " said Goosen, who could today silence those who doubt his credentials as a truly great player.

"I actually felt very good out there today, " he continued. "I felt more relaxed than I had on Friday, and maybe got too relaxed when I dropped these three shots." The day had started with decent hopes of a first European winner since Tony Jacklin in 1970, but Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald fell away.

Lee Westwood is on the fringes six shots behind, as is the Swede Peter Hedblom, who followed his championship best 66 with a 70.

There was an extraordinary performance from 51-year-old Peter Jacobsen, the 2004 US Senior Open champion, who carded a 69 with the help of anace. Jacobson, who owns his own television company and plays in a band called Jake Trout and the Flounders, notched the 39th hole-in-one in US Open history when he played a 7-iron to the 175yard ninth hole.

Sadly the very likeable Gore will have misgivings about the attention paid to Father's Day.

The 31-year-old had a tragic start to his career in the paid ranks; on the very day he turned professional he found his father dead in his house.

There was even misfortune on the way to Pinehurst when his car was broken into as he and his wife stopped overnight on the road from their Tennessee home. Last night he might not have been aware that the last six US Open winners have all come from the last pairing. If he topples Goosen today, they'll have to re-shoot Tin Cup.