It looked to be fading away for Louis Oosthuizen as he struggled for his best stuff in round three before closing in fine style late on Saturday, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
READ: Woodland and Rose clear at the top
The 2010 Open champion was two over for his round standing on the 15th tee box and hopes of a first win on US soil, a second Major and becoming the third player beyond Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to win at St Andrews and Pebble Beach looked a million miles away.
But Oosthuizen has fight and showed that in spades as he birdied 15 with a good putt.
One became two became three as he moved back to level for the day before a closing par left him four off the pace.
‘Yeah, it was a great finish,’ he said.
‘It wasn’t really a great round. I struggled all day with getting my green speed up. But, yeah, that putt on 15 sort of gave me a bit of what I needed to do in the round. Some good putts made on 15, 16 and 17.’
The 36-year-old is one of five players within five of the lead and knows Sunday will be about keeping mistakes at bay.
‘Yeah, I can’t make mistakes on 11, giving a shot away on a hole that you should birdie. But no mistakes tomorrow. I feel like I need to start well and just play a great round.
‘I think holes 1 through 7 I think you should be, in the position I am, probably 2- or 3-under around when I get to the 8th. But, yeah, you know, I think once you get through 8, 9 and 10, and I definitely think there’s some birdie holes after that, as well. But 8, 9 and 10 is always a key stretch where you can easily throw your round away.’
Oosthuizen expects the leading group to feel the heat and is ready to make a charge – something that will be required if Woodland and Rose are to be hauled in.
‘For us trailing, it’s a little bit better feeling sort of giving it a better go. You don’t have that pressure of the lead. And just go with everything tomorrow. If you think you can take something on, take it on. And if you want to win the championship, you need to do that tomorrow.’
Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
