By Ben Everill
NORTON, Massachusetts, Sept 2 (Reuters) – South African
Louis Oosthuizen produced a tournament record birdie blitz to
take control of the Deutsche Bank Championship during Sunday’s
third round, leaving the highly fancied Rory McIlroy and Tiger
Woods in his wake.
Oosthuizen reeled off nine birdies on his way to an
eight-under 63, including a tournament record seven in a row
from the fourth, to move to 19 under par for the tournament.
It left the 2010 British Open champion three shots clear of
McIlroy, who returned a tidy 67 to sit alone in second and in
striking distance at 16-under.
Woods managed a 68 to move into tie for third with fellow
American and Ryder Cup hopeful Dustin Johnson (65) at 13-under.
“It was obviously probably the start anyone would dream of
on that front nine,” Oosthuizen, who went out in a course record
29, told reporters. “I made everything, so you get those days
where you just look at a putt and you hole it.”
Oosthuizen started his charge with a tap in birdie on the
par five second hole before his game went white hot on the
fourth.
He coaxed in a seven-foot birdie putt on the drivable par
four to start his blitz.
The 29-year-old drained back-to-back 20-foot birdies on five
and six to take the outright lead and when he knocked in a
five-footer on the seventh he led by three.
Continued…
