Fowler still three clear in Ohio as Barnes races to 62

After a day that included two long weather delays, Fowler finished shortly before sunset at Muirfield Village with a three-under-par 69 that put him in with a strong chance to secure his first PGA Tour title. Fowler's three-round total of 200 leaves him at 16-under par, with fellow Americans Ricky Barnes (62) and Tim Petrovic (68) tied for second on 13-under. Briton Justin Rose (70) was another shot behind after finishing with two late bogeys.

"These last three days I've hit the ball well, kept it out of trouble and given myself some looks at birdie," the 21-year-old Fowler said. "So I knew the opportunities were going to come around and the course was there to be had."

Few of the game's bigger names – including Tiger Woods – have made an impression on the leaderboard, and Fowler said: "Those guys that are normally around, they aren't around, but it doesn't change my outlook. I'm just going to stick to my game plan."

Fans waited out the long morning weather delay to watch world No 1 Woods, but it was his playing partner Barnes who shone, shooting a 10-under-par 62 to move into contention.

Barnes picked up four strokes on the front nine, and he also birdied the par-four 10th, before making eagle at the par-five 11th, where he holed out from 108 yards, a shot that revved up the gallery.

"Irons were probably the main key to my round," said Barnes, who led into the final round at last year's US Open, before finishing tied for second. "I got away with a few bad drives but other than that hit a lot of greens and took advantage of my (opportunities)."

Woods, meanwhile, shot a three-under 69, leaving the defending champion 10 strokes from the lead and despite playing far from badly he refused requests for interviews and autographs afterwards.

The only blemish on his card was a double bogey at 10, where he blocked his drive into the back garden of a house adjacent to the fairway.