OLYMPIA FIELDS, Illinois, 16 June 2003 — Jim Furyk sank a curling 25-foot birdie putt at the last to forge three strokes clear in the US Open third round on Saturday as Tiger Woods’ title defense was left in tatters.

The 33-year-old Furyk, co-leader overnight with Vijay Singh, carded a three-under-par 67 after mixing five birdies with two bogeys at a sun-drenched Olympia Fields.

Woods, bidding this week for a third US Open crown in four years, dropped out of contention with a five-over-par 75 — his worst score as a professional in eight US Open starts — after a fan put him off his second shot at the par-five first.

Furyk, who possesses one of the most unorthodox swings in the game, finished at a tournament record 10-under 200 on a day when most of the 68-strong field struggled to maintain any momentum.

One of the straightest hitters in the game, Furyk shattered the previous 54-hole mark of 203, first set by George Burns at Merion in 1981, and later equaled by Tze-Chung Chen at Oakland Hills in 1985 and by Lee Janzen at Baltusrol in 1993.

Twice major winner Singh, who became the fourth player in US Open history to card a 63 on Friday, bogeyed the last three holes for a 72, slipping back into a tie for third at five-under 205 with Nick Price (69).

Former world number one Price, after a sizzling start featuring five birdies in the first six holes, stumbled round the turn but also managed to birdie the last to keep alive his hopes of a fourth career major title.

Australia’s Stephen Leaney, who like Furyk birdied the 18th, moved into second place with a gutsy 68 while American journeyman Dicky Pride, whose 66 was the best round of the day, ended up in a share of fifth at four-under 206.

Defending champion Woods endured a frustrating day as his title hopes all but disappeared.Woods had hit a perfect drive at the 576-yard opening hole but then pushed his approach into the right front bunker as the spectator whistled.

Rumford Leads All the Way

to Clinch Maiden Win

In St.-Omer, France, Australian Brett Rumford led the Aa St.-Omer Open from start to finish to clinch his maiden European Tour title yesterday.

The 25-year-old Perth man earned himself an 18-month full tour exemption with a closing four-under-par 67 for a winning total of 15-under 269, five strokes better than his final-day playing partner Ben Mason of England.

Rumford, who picked up $78,000 for winning, survived a scare on the par-five ninth when his approach to the green finished up less than three inches from out-of-bounds.

Having ridden his luck, Rumford, who could have been caught by Mason at that stage, went on to extend his three-shot overnight lead, picking up three birdies in the next four holes to go with the two he managed before the turn.

Aussie Teske Shares Lead;

Sorenstam, Rosales One Back

In Vienna, Ohio, Jean Bartholomew and Australia’s Rachel Teske are tied for the lead after two rounds of the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, but Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam is just one shot back as she seeks a third straight victory.

Bartholomew tied a tournament record at the Squaw Creek Country Club, firing a bogey-free 8-under-par 64 to reach 9-under 135 after 36 holes.

Teske also collected eight birdies but bogeyed the par-4 14th hole and settled for a 65 that was her best round of the season.

Sorenstam also fired a 65 and is tied with Australia’s Joanne Mills and Jennifer Rosales of the Philippines for third place at 8-under 136. After becoming the first woman in 58 years to compete in a PGA Tour event, Sorenstam won the Kellogg-Keebler Classic and the LPGA Championship in back-to-back weeks.