SAN FRANCISCO – Graeme McDowell knows how to win U.S. Opens in Northern California. He put on a clinic in Saturday’s third round.

McDowell shot a 2-under 68 and ended his round with a birdie at the par-4 18 when he knocked his approach to inside 10 feet. That birdie gave him the temporary lead at 1 under for the tournament as he walked to the scorer’s area. Jim Furyk later joined him at 1 under after a birdie at the par-5 17th.

McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champ at Pebble Beach, opened his third round with eight consecutive pars. He stumbled at the par-4 ninth, but once he made the turn, he was flawless. He birdied the 10th, 13th and 18th holes and avoided bogeys on the others.