Louis Oosthuizen starts Sunday’s final round at the BMW Championship at Medinah Country Club on the brink of making it to East Lake, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
The numbers tell a story.
Louis Oosthuizen started the week in 28th place with the top 30 making it to the Tour Championship. There hasn’t been a South African in the finale since 2016 (Charl Schwartzel).
After a (bogey free) 68 he is projected 30th. He hit 11 fairways in round 3; an improvement of 17% from his previous two rounds.
He hit 14 greens and crucially, Oosthuizen didn’t miss a putt within 10 feet all day.
And speaking of putting, for the first time this week he was left in the positive with nearly a full stroke gained on the greens. Compare that to Friday when he lost nearly two stokes to the field.
It started with a 17-foot putt for birdie and included a sandie on the fifth for another birdie. He birdied the 10th thanks to a 11-foot putt and despite missing the fairway with his second into the par 5 14th, he dialled in a wedge to just five feet for his fourth gain of the round.
At nine under, he is a staggering 12 shots behind leader Justin Thomas and back in 17th place. He needs a solo 21 or better to advance.
Thomas, the former PGA Championship winner, broke the course record to lead by six from Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay.
Dylan Frittelli has no shot at making it to East Lake and sits back in a share of 47th place.
