Tiger Woods moves up in the Open, but he still has to catch Dustin Johnson

Reporting from Pebble Beach — 

Tiger Woods on Saturday matched Phil Mickelson’s 66 on Friday and that puts a charge into Sunday as the 110th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach heads for a possible cliff-hanger.

At the end of the day, however, it was Dustin Johnson’s 66 that everyone will be chasing.

Playing in the last group, as the sun set, Johnson made a two-putt birdie on the 18th hole to cap the five-under-par round.

Johnson is the 54-hole leader at six-under 207 and has a three-shot cushion over Graeme McDowell, the 36-hole leader, who shot even-par 71 and stands overall at three-under 210.

“I put myself in a great position for tomorrow,” Johnson said. “I’ve got to keep playing the way I’m playing and I have a great chance to win.”

Lurking in the seaside weeds is Woods, five shots behind at one-under 212 after his sizzling 66.

At even par 213, incredibly in contention, is 33-year old Frenchman Gregory Havret, who shot a two-under 69 on Saturday.

Havret has three wins on the European Tour but is playing in his first U.S. Open.

Hobbies?

“I like music,” Havret said. “First thing is I really, really love golf.”

Havret is one shot ahead of golfing big guns Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, both on the outskirts of contention at one-over 214.

Mickelson started the day only two shots out but enters the final round trailing by seven after his two-over 73.

“I put myself in trouble a lot,” he said of his round.

And his chances now of winning his first U.S. Open?

“If I can go shoot something in the 60s, make some birdies, you never know what could happen.”

It sounded like yesteryear bravado after the second round when Woods, seven shots out of the lead, and without a win this season, said he was still in contention.

“I feel good,” he said, “I’m right there.”

It didn’t look any better after Woods fell to nine off the pace after bogeys at No.2 and No.3 on Saturday, but then he summoned something from the past that included chest bumps and fist pumps.

Woods began the day tied for 25th and ended it liking his chances to win his fourth U.S. Open and 15th major championship.

Woods’ round, which ended with three birdies, gives him a chance.

Northern Ireland’s McDowell still has a shot of becoming the first European since 1970 to win the U.S. Open.

Johnson, though, appears the man to beat.

He’s a 25-year-old heavy hitter from South Carolina, who has won the last two PGA Tour events at Pebble Beach.

Players are in awe of Johnson’s talent. He’s 6 feet 4, 190 pounds, and can dunk a basketball.

“I’ve played with long hitters who can play,” Woods said of Johnson, “but he just hits it for miles.”

Woods played a practice round with Johnson before the Open and both stood at the par-three 17th, playing 226 yards into the wind.

Woods was thinking about hitting two-iron.

“And Dustin just pulls out a four-iron like it’s nothing,” Woods said.

Funny how fast things can turn around.

Mickelson was Friday’s star after his 66 left him one under overall within two shots of the lead.

Mickelson started the day five shots ahead of Woods and ended up trailing Woods by two.

Mickelson’s game took a turn for the worse. He shot three-over 38 on the front, which included a double bogey at No. 9. He rallied with a birdie at 16 and salvaged par after his tee shot at 18 bounced into the seaside rocks.

Woods shook off his rough start and rediscovered some of the magic he’d lost in the aftermath of a tabloid scandal and a long layoff.

Woods made five birdies on the back nine on his way to a 31 that reminded everyone — including Woods — of his Saturday back nine at Torrey Pines two years ago.

Woods’ final scorecard had eight birdies and three bogeys, pretty good when you consider it took Woods 20 holes to get his first birdie of this tournament,

On the treacherous par-three 17th, Woods said he was just trying to nuzzle a lag putt from 15 feet.

“Not a putt I was expecting to make,” Woods said, “Wasn’t even trying to make it.”

He made it.

Then, slightly obstructed by a tree in the par-five 18th fairway, Woods cut a magnificent three-wood to the middle of the green and two-putted for a birdie.

Is the mojo back?

“It’s a process,” Woods said. “You have to just build.”

If what Woods built Saturday was momentum, Sunday could be interesting.

chris.dufresne@latimes.com