Atwal moves up, Chopra slips down in US

Atwal, who began with a 67 on first day and followed that with a 74, is now one-over 211 for three days.

Meanwhile, Daniel Chopra slipped the leaderboard with a card of 71. He had two birdies and three bogeys as he slipped from 12th to 20th.

Atwal had a bogey on second and a double bogey on fourth to be three-over at that stage. He had two more bogeys on sixth and tenth, but five birdies on fifth, seventh, ninth, 11th and 13th saved him from more agony as conditions got tougher with the greens firming up at the TPC Southwind course.

Veteran Davis Love III, now 48 years in age, and the U.S. Ryder Cup captain, shot his third straight 2-under 68 yesterday to join Nick O'Hern (67) and John Merrick (69) atop the leaderboard. He has not won since 2008.

Rory McIlroy, who will defend his U.S. Open title next week at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, had a one-stroke lead when he teed off. He shot a 72 in a round that featured six bogeys and four birdies to drop in a tie for fourth at five-under, one behind the three leaders.

Dustin Johnson making his second start after a two and a half month layoff recovering from back pain, also was in the group at five-under after a 67 that included a bogey on No. 18.