U.S. Open Round 3 grades

— -- PINEHURST, N.C. -- With fast, firm, diabolical pins and winds that perplexed the best players in the world, Pinehurst No. 2 gave a lesson in how to properly respect the U.S. Open as the most demanding test in golf.

None of the top-ranked players on my board was humiliated with a score in the 80s.

One player, Brendon Todd, new to this list, did earn an F. But I was proud to add Rickie Fowler and the sentimental favorite, Erik Compton, to the board. With 67s, these two players had the best rounds on Saturday, earning both an A-plus.

Adam Scott    World Ranking: No. 1 | Scores: 73-67-73

Pinehurst No. 2 made the world No. 1 look pretty average on Saturday. The Australian had five bogeys against just two birdies and hit only seven of 18 greens.

Henrik Stenson    World Ranking: No. 2 | Scores: 69-69-70

Knowing at the beginning of the third round that even par would be a good score at the end of the day, Stenson went out and did just that. At 2 under par for the tournament, he could be in the chase for the title on Sunday afternoon on the back nine.

Matt Kuchar    World Ranking: No. 5 | Scores: 69-70-71

Rory McIlroy    World Ranking: No. 6 | Scores: 71-68-74

With five bogeys on his front nine on Saturday, the former No. 1 lost whatever chance he had of taking his second U.S. Open title. He brought it back with a couple of birdies on the back, but the damage was already done. He finished with a 4-over 74.

Jason Day    World Ranking: No. 7 | Scores: 73-68-72

The 26-year-old Australian had only one birdie on Saturday to go with three bogeys for a 2-over 72. Surprisingly, he couldn't capitalize on the short par-5 fifth hole, one he had birdied in his two previous rounds.

Sergio Garcia    World Ranking: No. 8 | Scores: 73-71-72

Justin Rose    World Ranking: No. 9 | Scores: 72-69-70

Jordan Spieth    World Ranking: No. 10 | Score: 69-70-72

Phil Mickelson    World Ranking: No. 11 | Scores: 70-73-72

Already devoid of much fight from the start of the third round, the five-time major champion faced Pinehurst No. 2 at its hardest of the week on Saturday. Mickelson said after his 2-over 72 that the pins were so close to the edges that he never really got many realistic chances of getting the ball close.

Dustin Johnson    World Ranking: No. 15 | Scores: 69-69-70

Martin Kaymer    World Ranking: No. 28 | Scores: 65-65-72

Rickie Fowler    World Ranking: No. 39 | Scores: 70-70-67

Brendon Todd    World Ranking: No. 55 | Scores: 69-67-79

Erik Compton    World Ranking: No. 187 | Scores: 72-68-67