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South African Louis Oosthuizen has made a monster eagle putt at the final hole to vault into a three-way tie for the lead after the third round at the US Open.
Key points:
- Oosthuizen, Mackenzie Hughes and Russell Henley share the lead at 5-under-par
- Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau are two shots off the lead
- Adam Scott is the best-placed Australian at 3-over
Oosthuizen’s downhill 15-metre putt slammed into the middle of the flag and toppled in to add another layer of fascination to what already was shaping up to be a compelling final round at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
With a 1-under-par 70, Oosthuizen joined Canadian Mackenzie Hughes (68) and American Russell Henley (71) at the top of the leaderboard at 5-under.
But the three frontrunners did not have to look far over their shoulders to see heavyweights Rory McIlroy (67) and Bryson DeChambeau (68) waiting to pounce just two strokes behind.
Jon Rahm (72), despite a double-bogey, is among a trio three strokes off the lead.
Thirteen players in all are within four shots off the pace.
Adam Scott is the leading Australian in a 10-way tie for 31st place on 3-over after posting an even-par 71 in the third round.
Scott’s countrymen Wade Ormsby and Marc Leishman are 6-over, while Matt Jones is 9-over.
Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, has completed the career runner-up grand slam, and just last month was equal second behind Phil Mickelson at the PGA Championship.
Now he has another chance but knows it will take something special.
“There’s a lot of great players up there that have a chance of winning this, and I just need to go out and play as good as I can tomorrow,” Oosthuizen said.
Henley started the day tied for the lead with Richard Bland and maintained at least a share of it the entire day.
“I’m 32, I don’t know how many more good years I have of golf left,” Henley said.
“I’m excited, and you always wonder what it would feel like or be like to be in contention.”
Hughes vaulted into contention by sinking an 18-metre eagle putt at the par-five 13th hole that prompted an enormous gallery roar that reverberated across the canyons to the rest of the course.
In uncharted territory, he did not even attempt to downplay the situation.
“You get goosebumps thinking about it, so I know I’m going to be nervous tomorrow,” Hughes said.
“I essentially played today around the lead all day. I think I was only ever a few back the entire day.
Mickelson, a record six-times US Open runner-up, saw his bid to complete the career grand slam disappear for another year after a disappointing 5-over 76 left him at 7-over for the tournament.
Playing a month after becoming golf’s oldest major winner at 50 by claiming the PGA Championship, Mickelson could not produce the same magic in his hometown.
Reuters/ABC
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