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Phil Mickelson watches as his iron approach drops for eagle on 10. YouTube Screengrab
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Stunning 120-yard eagle chip gives Mickelson US Open hope as Rose blooms

Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose inherited the lead after Lefty’s putting woes at the third but that was just the beginning.

Updated 00:35 (Monday)

PHIL MICKELSON BOUNCED back from a double bogey on the third hole of his final round at the US Open but was ultimately denied by Justin Rose. The American finished on +3 with his English rival two shots better off.

Lefty slipped from -1 to +1 before welcome relief in the form of a birdie at four. His three-putt on the third hole meant that no-one was under par for the championship. A stunning iron approach from 120-yards on the 10th beamed towards the hole and dropped to give Mickelson an eagle.

Here is the amazing shot:

YouTube credit: Cowboy7723

Mickelson gave the two shots back by bogeying 13 and 15, allowing Rose to edge ahead. The Englishman, who defeated Mickelson in the 2012 Ryder Cup Singles, was under par briefly but finished on +1 after going close with a birdie putt on the last.

South African golfer Charl Schwartzel was -1 until a bogeys on  three and four soured his early charge. He ended at +6 after a rough stretch around the turn. The chasing pack consisted of Jason Day and Hunter Mahan. Jason Dufner made a significant charge as he sits on +5 after starting the day on +6. Rickie Fowler was on +4 with four to play but bogeyed three of his last four holes.

Players, apart from hole-in-one star Shawn Stefani, have been given a rough time of it by the punishing set-up and crabby rough at the Philadelphia course. Luke Donald [+4] has struck a spectator and Rory McIlroy [+14] found water at 11 before eventually carding a quadruple bogey eight.

Rory McIlroy was a frequent visitor to the bunkers at Merion today. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Padraig Harrington finished up on +11 and is currently placed just outside the top 25. The Dubliner shot 72 and had just one birdie, on the fifth, and three bogeys in a solid round.

Waterford amateur Kevin Phelan finished on +20 after a closing round of 74. Tiger Woods was just seven shots better. The world number one birdied the first hole to go to +8 but was then de-railed by a triple-bogey on the second.

More to follow.

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