NOTEBOOK \ U.S. Open

Europe’s hopes: Get close to the top of the leader board at a major, and European players know what’s coming. When are you finally going to win one of these things? “It has to happen sooner rather than later,” Justin Rose said Saturday after shooting a 73 that put him three strokes off the lead. “There are so many capable players from Europe it has to be a matter of time. It’s a question of who it will be.” Rose and fellow Englishman Paul Casey both have a shot at it. The two are 5-over 215, tied for third with Stephen Ames and Bubba Watson behind leader Aaron Baddeley and Tiger Woods.

Brehaut debut: Jeff Brehaut waited more than 20 years to play in his first major, and he’s making the most of it. The first step was making the cut, which he did with rounds of 73-75. And when it looked like the third round Saturday might get away from him, Brehaut holed a 60-foot par putt on No. 9, then shot 33 on the back for a 70. That left him with a fleeting chance today at 8-over 218, and if nothing else a chance to return. The top 15 are exempt next year, and the top eight get invited to the Masters. “One shot at a time,” he said. “Don’t do that to me. I’ll be grinding over every shot.”

Fast drop: Any other course, and Niclas Fasth might still be near the top of the leader board. At Oakmont Country Club, though, one bad hole has a way of becoming a bunch. Three birdies in his first 10 holes had Fasth near the top of the leader board at 3 over. But he got into trouble with a double bogey on the par-3 13th, and dropped two more strokes over the next three holes. “Not that I had much momentum today, but I lost whatever I had from there,” said Fasth, who finished with a 5-over 75. “It goes quick.” His only consolation is that he’s not out of it. At 7-over 217, he’s only five strokes behind leader Aaron Baddeley.

Associated Press