Saturday, June 19, 2021. 9:24 PM
SAN DIEGO – Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and South African Louis Oosthuizen brought back memories of Tiger Woods on Saturday at the United States Golf Open.
Just like in 2008, when Woods had two long eagles in the 13th and 18th, it made the race for first place more exciting.
First, Hughes stalled a 60-foot putt from outside the putting green in front of the cut at the 13th hole to get back into the race.
Oosthuizen then responded with a 50-foot eagle in the 18th.
Those two spectacular blows led to a three-time tie for the lead in Round 3 between Hughes, Oosthuizen and Russell Henley, who held on to share the lead heading into a final round where anything could happen.
“It’s a course where anything can happen. It is a difficult course and from the old days. You will have hiccups and you will feel the repercussions. It’s just a question of how you are going to handle these situations, ”Oosthuizen said.
Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau were two shots behind the leaders after 54 holes.
McIlroy hasn’t won a major tournament in seven years, while DeChambeau would love to win the United States Open for a second straight year. Brooks Koepka was the last golfer to achieve this feat, in 2017 and 2018.
“From where I was on Friday, I was just thinking two rounds of 68 was going to give me a shot at winning,” said McIlroy, who started the third round six-headed. I did the first part of the job. Now it’s my turn to deliver another similar round of golf. “
If the first two days were devoid of twists and turns, the third did not disappoint in this regard.
Hughes, who had failed to advance to the weekend’s rounds in his last four tournaments, added a birdie in the 18th to finish the round at 68 (under-3).
He was the first player to reach minus-5.
“I know Tiger was a little more to the right, but halfway through my putt I liked the line,” Hughes said of his shot to the 13th pennant. The charge that goes through your body when the ball goes into the hole and the crowd exclaims, that’s what we play for. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. “
Oosthuizen had an uneventful round, until he succeeded in stalling his last three holes for the birdie in the 16th and the eagle in the 18th. He played 70.
Henley took a two-stroke lead in the 11th, when he sent his sand exit straight to the bottom of the cup. However, he showed signs of weakness in the last hour, when he made a buggy in the 15th and saved par with pain and misery on his last hole. He brought back a card of 71.
On the eve of the final round, 13 players were still under par, eight of whom were only three strokes apart.
McIlroy had started the round six strokes off the point guard. He had three birdies in four holes at the start of his return nine, but he sent his tee shot on the next hole in a water hazard. He added a birdie in the 18th to bring back a card of 67.
DeChambeau played 68, scoring three birdies without any buggy.
“You really have to be very patient during these major tournaments,” said DeChambeau. It is not easy. I feel like I’m starting to understand golf during the majors and how to manage its game, attitude and level of patience. If I can continue this way on Sunday I believe I will have a good chance of winning. “
The only other Canadian on the course, Adam Hadwin slipped 28 spots in his round of 75, his worst of the tournament so far.
