Golf: Wounded Tiger seizes US Open lead

Tiger Woods, hobbled by his painful left knee, pulled off a remarkable birdie-eagle finish on Saturday to seize the third-round lead in the US Open golf championship.

Woods, who was left wincing after many of his shots on the back nine, got a feel-good moment at 17 when his chip from a difficult downhill lie in greenside rough took one hop and found the cup.

At 18 his second shot from the fairway left him grimacing, but he rolled in a 35-footer for eagle to complete a one-under 70 for three-under 210.

With the eagle he leapfrogged over England's Lee Westwood, who was in the clubhouse on two-under 211 after a 70.

Despite his difficulties, Woods is a potent threat to claim his third US Open and 14th major championship.

He is 13-for-13 in majors when he has held at least a share of the 54-hole lead.

American Rocco Mediate led for much of the day, settling for a one-over 72 that left him on one-under 212.

Australia's US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy carded a 72 for one-over 214, where he was joined by American D.J. Trahan (73).

Overnight leader Stuart Appleby shot himself out of the running early, finishing with a 79 for 218. Sweden's Robert Karlsson, who started the day tied with Woods and Mediate one stroke behind Appleby, posted a 75 for 215.