Defending champion Brooks Koepka moved within striking distance in a tie for third as the American goes after a third successive US Open title.

Kansas native Woodland maintained his cool as he headed out in the final group alongside England's Justin Rose, but as the pressure mounted, he kept his cool.

He miraculously holed a 33-foot chip to take par on the 12th and followed up with a 42-foot putt for par on the 14th as he carded a two-under-par 69 to sit on 11-under-par.

"I feel very comfortable on this golf course," said Woodland, who tied for sixth in last year's PGA Championship and has never won a major.

"I have a short game now I can rely on.

"This is a golf course I don't have to pound a lot of drivers, I can play a little more conservatively, stick to my game plan.

"It's nice to be where I'm at right now but I'm looking forward to going out and doing it one more day."

Rose, the reigning Olympic champion who won the US Open in 2013, closed the gap to just one shot as he posted a three-under-par 68 after Woodland led by two overnight.

Koepka, who shares third position with fellow-American Chez Reavie and Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, is definitely not to be ruled out as the trio trail by just four strokes at Pebble Beach.

Last year's champion, who defended his PGA Championship title last month, salvaged a momentum-saving par with a 33-foot putt on the 15th hole after his approach found deep rough to the left of the green.

Reavie also bailed himself out of trouble early with a 51-footer for par on the second hole.

Oosthuizen birdied three straight holes from the 15th as he stayed in contention, with 2011 US Open champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lying in sixth place, five strokes behind leader Woodland.

Former US Open winners Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland, England's Danny Willett and Swede Henrik Stenson are seven back at four-under-par.