SOUTH AFRICA’S LOUIS Oosthuizen grabbed in an eight-under par 63 Sunday to seize a three-shot lead after three rounds of the US PGA Tour’s Deutsche Bank Championship.
Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, birdied seven holes in a row starting at the par-four fourth, and followed up his lone bogey of the day at 17 with a birdie at the par-five 18th at the par-71 TPC Boston.
He had a 54-hole total of 19-under par 194.
Oosthuizen surged past overnight leader Rory McIlroy, the world number one from Northern Ireland who carded a 67 for 197.
Tiger Woods carded a 68 for a share of third place on 13-under 200 alongside fellow American Dustin Johnson, who posted a 65.
Oosthuizen, who trailed McIlroy by one coming into the round, made it look easy. His string of seven birdies included four putts of 20 feet or more, the seventh coming with a tap-in at the par-four 10th.
His seven-under 29 on the front nine was a tournament record, as was his 54-hole total.
“Louis put on a display right there,” said McIlroy, who nevertheless wasn’t conceding defeat.“I’ve come from farther behind before,” McIlroy said. “It’s going to be an interesting day tomorrow.”
The $8 million tournament, which is the second stop on the US tour’s four-event playoff series, concludes on Monday, the US Labor Day holiday.
