A fightback on the back nine holes kept Matt Wallace firmly in the hunt for a top-10 finish at least after the third round of the US Open at Pebble Beach.

Starting the day five shots behind halfway leader Gary Woodland, the Moor Park Golf Club honorary member would have hoped to make inroads into that advantage in the front nine holes.

A bogey at the par four second, for the third successive round, was cancelled out with a birdie two at the fourth, also for the third day running, before Wallace’s challenge threatened to unravel as he approached the turn.

The 29-year-old dropped a shot at the par four eighth before a double bogey six at the next hole saw him go out in a three-over-par score of 38.

The world number 26 regrouped though, and was to capitalise on the two par fives on the back nine in style.

He made a birdie four at 14 to get back to two-under for the tournament before finishing his third round in superb fashion with an eagle three at the 18th for an even par round and a four-under-par total.

Wallace is in a share of ninth after 54 holes – alongside Henrik Stenson, Jon Rahm, Graeme McDowell and Danny Willett – seven shots behind Woodland.

The American goes into the final round with a one-shot advantage over Justin Rose, with Louis Oosthuizen, Chez Reavie and defending champion Brooks Koepka four back on seven-under.