Ross Fisher makes an early mark as he bids for major glory

Ross Fisher kick-started his US Open victory bid with an early birdie to close the gap on leader Ricky Barnes as the final round resumed at Bethpage.

England's Fisher began the fifth day of the rain-hit championship five strokes behind overnight co-leader Barnes, who was at seven under par and in thick rough at the second hole when play was suspended last night due to fading light.

Tied for third, Fisher had bogeyed his opening hole in the evening gloom on Long Island to drop to two under but Barnes followed suit to fall into a joint lead with Lucas Glover at seven under.

When play resumed today, Barnes managed to find the second green out of the rough to make par before Fisher made his move.

The 28-year-old from Cheam rolled in a three-foot birdie putt at the par‑five fourth to get back to three under, four shots behind Barnes, with Glover bogeying the third to slip to six under.

Hunter Mahan had been at three under with a birdie at the fourth ahead of the Englishman but the US Ryder Cup player then bogeyed the par-four fifth and was tied for fourth at two under after five with playing partner Phil Mickelson.