Casey leads the European charge
St Andrews (Scotland), July 17: England’s Paul Casey led a European charge in Saturday’s third round of the British Open as South African Louis Oosthuizen clung to the lead and Tiger Woods grinded in swirling winds.
Casey birdied four of the first seven holes to stand on 10-under par and two strokes shy of 36-hole leader Oosthuizen, who began with a bogey, rescued a par from eight feet at the fourth and birdied the seventh to regain 12-under par.
Casey, trying to become England's first major champion since Nick Faldo in 1996, birdied the second and third holes, tapped-in for another at the par-5 fifth and birdied seven to keep the pressure upon the South African. Swedish 54-hole clubhouse leader Henrik Stenson and Spain’s Alejandro Canizares were on seven-under with Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Swede Robert Karlsson and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez all on six-under.
South Korea’s Jin Jeong, who won last month's British Amateur, followed a bogey with an eagle at the fourth and was on six-under as well along with South African Retief Goosen and American Ricky Barnes with Swede Peter Hanson on five-under. And Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who matched the low round in major history with an opening 63 but soared to an 80 in gusting winds Friday, came back with a three-under par 69 to stand at four-under 212 for 54 holes.
McIlroy made five birdies in the last 11 holes but took a double bogey at 17, the infamous Road Hole, to stand level with Spain's Sergio Garcia on four-under.
Tamer pin placements opened the door for players to make a run at the lead.
Brisk breezes blew across the Old Course, the same gusts Oosthuizen escaped Friday to grab the lead at the legendary links.
Oosthuizen, who missed the cut in seven of eight prior majors, led by five shots on 12-under 132 after 36 holes, the largest midway lead at a British Open since 1982 when American Bobby Clampett collapsed and ended in a share of 10th.
Top-ranked Woods was four-under, seven off Oosthuizen’s pace and level on his third round.
Woods lipped out a 60-foot birdie bid at two, made bogey at the par-5 fifth and missed a 15-foot birdie try at seven.
Woods answered a bogey at the par-3 eighth with a birdie at nine and another at the 12th kept him within hope of overtaking the leaders.
Stenson, who won his biggest career title at last year's US PGA Players Championship, eagled the par-4 13th and fired four birdies on the front nine on his way to a five-under 67 to stand on seven-under par 209 after 54 holes.
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