Oosthuizen poised to win British Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Louis Oosthuizen shot a 3-under 69 and will go to the final round of the British Open with a four-stroke lead.

The South African opened with a nervous bogey, then settled down quickly on another windswept afternoon to be at 15-under 201 on Saturday. His closest challenger was England’s Paul Casey, whose 67 left him at 205 overall. No one else was within six shots of Oosthuizen, who has a chance to become the first player in 46 years to win his first major at the home of golf.

Ernie Els called him on Saturday morning to wish him well. Gary Player left him a message at his hotel. Maybe it’s time for the 27-year-old Oosthuizen to start thinking he could be the next South African with a claret jug.

“I don’t think anyone was thinking I was going to be up there,” Oosthuizen said. “You’ve heard yourself, no one can actually say my surname, so they don’t even know who I am out there. It’s great being up there. I just want to enjoy everything about it. I loved it out there. It was great fun for me. And hopefully, tomorrow will be the same.”

A victory Sunday would make him the first player since Tony Lema in 1964 to win his first major at St. Andrews.

“The Open at St. Andrews would be something special,” Oosthuizen said. “It’s one of those things you dream of.” (AP)