After a difficult opening two days’ play on the tough and unforgiving par-70 course, all three got on track at Oakland Hills as rain threatened.

Romero rattled in seven birdies and just two bogeys on his way to a five-under, course record-equalling 65 to move to two over for the tournament, while Villegas was four under for his round, one over for the tournament after 14 holes.

McDowell, a two-time European Tour winner this year, had begun with birdies at the par-five second and the par-four sixth, which tournament officials shortened from 387 yards following the second round, measuring 285 yards to the front of the green and 318 yards to the hole.

McDowell was at two under for the week having played 15 holes, four under for his day in a round that included an eagle three at the 12th.

Holmes and the other leading contenders were yet to begin their days and they faced another rough and rain-interrupted day with thunderstorms and gusting winds forecast during their third round.

Justin Rose was just one shot off the lead in the final major of the year following a second-round, three-under-par 67 that moved him to even par for the tournament alongside Americans Ben Curtis and Charlie Wi with Holmes the man to beat at one under, the only player under par after 36 holes.

The Englishman was due to tee off in the second from last pairing with 2003 Open champion Curtis at 7.30pm Irish Time with the forecast issued by tournament officials at the PGA of America predicting numerous showers and thunderstorms across the region and gusting winds of 20-25 miles per hour.

Play was suspended for 85 minutes late on Thursday as the opening round came to a temporary halt due to rain and the threat of lightning, and the same fate hit the championship on Saturday as players were ordered off the course at 7.16pm Irish Time with dark clouds gathering above.

The third round had got under way under mostly sunny skies this morning.

With the cut coming on Friday night at eight over par, 73 golfers remain in the championship.

England’s Paul Casey, though, insisted yesterday anyone surviving the cut had a chance at victory.

Casey, seven strokes off the halfway lead, believes the severity of the par-70, 7,395-yard course and the forecast gusting winds leave the contest wide open.

“I honestly think anyone making the cut right now has still got a chance,” Casey said following his second-round, four-over-par 74 that left him at six over for the tournament heading into the weekend.

“Those going out in the morning with the better greens can post a number and there is no reason why they can’t get close to the lead.

“I was close to the cut at the Open and finished tied for seventh. I don’t see why you can’t do the same here.

“The guys at the top know how tough it can be and while they have played great golf to get there, they need to play well to stay at the top.”

Yet while McDowell, Romero and Villegas were putting Casey’s theory to the test, the man himself bogeyed the par-four first to slip back to seven over before steadying with pars for the rest of his front nine.

There was another bogey at the 11th and Casey was two over for his round after 14 holes when play was suspended.