Furyk unlikely to back down

The man with the best chance to challenge Aaron Baddeley and Tiger Woods on the final day of the 107th U.S. Open might be Jim Furyk, who, while no one was looking, quietly sneaked into serious championship contention.

Furyk has almost been anonymous at Oakmont Country Club, but a birdie-birdie finish Saturday put him at even-par 70 and six-over 216 through 54 holes.

Among the leaders, Furyk is the only man other than Woods to have won a U.S. Open.

Woods has won two, in 2000 at Pebble Beach and two years later at Bethpage Black.

In 2003, Furyk broke through with his win at Olympia Fields outside Chicago. Furyk also had a chance to win last year at Winged Foot before finishing tied for second behind winner Geoff Ogilvy.

“There’s always a benefit to knowing you can win,” Furyk said. “You’ve done it before rather than thinking you can.”

It takes a level head and steady hand to win a U.S. Open, and Furyk has both.

He might be the one guy who won’t flinch down the stretch if he’s battling Woods for the championship.

“Obviously with Tiger Woods leading or close to the lead, you know he’s the favorite and you all are picking him,” Furyk said. “And most of the guys that are playing against him have their eye on him.

“He’s got the most experience of all. He’s been in the hunt more than anyone, won more times than anyone. So he obviously doesn’t lack any confidence down the stretch.”

*

His name is Zach Johnson ... remember him?

The surprise winner of this year’s Masters is not going to make it two majors in a row.

He shot 76 Saturday and stands at 16 over through 54 holes.

“I’d say my biggest headache is just the course setup,” Johnson said. “It’s just hard. I mean, the golf course is the story this week, or the way the USGA sets it up, one of the two.”

*

Power of positive thinking, or something like that.

Ian Poulter shot two-over 72 Saturday and is 11 over through 54 holes.

What’s it going to take to win?

“I will have to shoot a Johnny Miller tomorrow,” Poulter said.

Poulter, of course, was referring to Miller’s closing round of 63 to win the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Add Poulter: He is known for his outlandish outfits, but Saturday he drew raves from the gallery for wearing colors worn by the popular pro football team that plays in nearby Pittsburgh.

“It was a little coincidence,” Poulter said as he heard chants of “Here we go, Steelers!” “They were chanting everywhere. It was cool.”

*

Steve Stricker shot his way back into contention, holing out from the fairway for a birdie on the 18th hole, giving him a 68. He is at 216 through 54 holes.

Stricker is one of only six players who have shot rounds of under par this week.

Stricker also shot five-over 75 on Thursday.

“You look like an idiot at times,” Stricker said of playing Oakmont. “Scratch that. You look like a fool at times.”

*

The forecast for today’s fourth round is calling for steamy weather and a high in the mid-80s with a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms. If there’s a playoff, it would begin Monday at noon EDT, when the forecast calls for a high near 90 and a chance of thunderstorms.

*

Mathew Goggin was the first player out on Saturday, and he played by himself, since 63 players made the cut and he was the odd man out . . . or in. Goggin sped through his round in a breezy 2 hours 57 minutes.

Goggin shot a 74 and could have played with a marker, but thought it would be better going alone if he had a rhythm. His tee time was 10:05 a.m. -- more than five hours before the last group started.

“I was totally shocked at how many people were out here,” he said. “It was shocking to me to be wandering around and all the bleachers were absolutely packed. I guess everybody’s getting their vantage points.”

--

chris.dufresne@latimes.com

thomas.bonk@latimes.com