Overnight rain once again softened the long, links-style layout and enabled some players to go very low again, which South Korean Kim seemed to feel hurt his chances.
On Saturday, Justin Thomas tied the record for the best round at a major by shooting 63.
Reed was nearly as good, shooting a 7-under 65 to get to 8-under for the tournament.
And yet, Thomas won't even walk to the first tee box Sunday with the lead. That wasn't almost enough to put Stricker into title contention on the longest course in U.S. Open history, especially after the rain-softened greens led to a birdie-fest that pushed the third-round lead to 12-under par, but it did answer any questions about whether his game remains viable in a golfing world obsessed with youth and distance.
Rickie Fowler carded 68 to take his total to 10-under 206.
"I couldn't have shot any higher", Johnson said. "I know one thing, if it happened tomorrow and the result is what I want it to be, then I'd probably have a different feeling. I just happened to be in the ideal spot". He made two more birdies, including one on the par-3 seventh that put him at 12 under.
"I think that can't be underestimated", said Fleetwood, "having your friend with you". But there's a couple today where I kind of puffed them out there and I'm back there a couple extra clubs.
"If I say it's right, he'll hit it", said the towering Finnis, who is 10 years Fleetwood's senior.
"Yeah, 12 under, I'd have about a 10-shot lead in most Opens", he said. "I was excited to shoot 63". It's all pretty self-explanatory, I guess, in terms of what it means.
Thomas briefly joined them with six birdies in a front-nine 31 but then bogey the 10th, as Fleetwood and Koepka exchanged birdies at the par-five first.
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He stressed on the need to reduce the rate of 28 per cent tax on room rent of Rs 5,000 in hotels in the interest of travel and tourism.
First he ripped a 331-yard drive. Reed got out and in on Saturday with just 23 putts, including a three-jack on the 18th. And on No. 9, he made a 21-foot putt. He's alone in fifth place and two shots back of Harman. At that point, he was leading by seven shots.
There were a lot of low scores Saturday.
"It was definitely conducive for good scores [Saturday]", Thomas said. "I was just happy that I was the one that was able to take advantage of it today".
He had a chance to extend his lead to two but missed an 11-footer for birdie on 18. Although his afternoon was full of highlights, two stick out above the rest. It's the best I've struck the ball in a long time. I've been putting it pretty good.
The 24-year-old Thomas is in his third year on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods did it in 2000 when he won by 15 strokes. He plans to do the same on Sunday.
"Struck it well, hit a bunch of greens, and that's what you've got to do to play well around here".
Entering this week's U.S. Open, the past six major championships have been captured by first-time winners. He shot 72 in the third round for an 8-under 202.
Thomas had 300 yards to the hole for his second shot at the 18th.
Fowler, sharing a house with Thomas this week, was being left behind until he ran off three straight birdies and shot 68.
Thomas drained a putt on No. 5 which he literally started it in the wrong direction, and that, he said, wasn't even his best shot of the day. "I'm looking forward to my shot at it". So I've got to work on that driver a little bit more and see if I can't hit it a little bit more consistently with some length.
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