Louis Oosthuizen played the last 10 holes of Saturday’s third round in one over par to fade from the picture on an electrifying day at Augusta National.
Playing five groups ahead of the overnight leader Patrick Reed, the South African got off to a slow start with a bogey at the first. The ship was steadied and then some despite a par at the second as the 2012 playoff loser made his move with a birdie on the third, although he made hard work of it.
His approach from 130 yards was left of the flag and settled 23 feet from the flag.
Enter the putter.
His perfect stroke saw the ball find the centre of the cup as he aggressively countered the break from the left with good speed.
A precision iron into the sixth left him with a little over five foot as he left himself below the hole after safely navigated the front bunker. He duly converted to move into a share of 11th place at the time.
It was back to back birdied after a putt from 15 feet navigated the slight break from the right as Oosthuizen looked to keep pace on a day where the world’s best produced some breathtaking strokeplay and low scoring as he sat just four shots separating him and runaway leader Patrick Reed.
Unfortunately for South African interests that’s where his progress ended as he settled for 5 on the long eighth hole and would par every hole on the way in except for a three-putt bogey at the infamous par 3 12th.
‘Hit it great but a frustrating day with the putter. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow,’ he said after the round which left him 11 shots behind the lead in tied 12th with England’s Justin Rose and Australian Cameron Smith.
South Africa’s only other player in the weekend field, Branden Grace, produced his third round in 70s after a Saturday 74 that included just one birdie, the par 5 13th, and three drops. Grace is lying in a share of 40th place alongside Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau.
Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
