2010 British Open, Round 3: Louis Oosthuizen Finishes Day With Four-Stroke Lead

At the end of Round 3, Louis Oosthuizen still holds the lead at the British Open, but a new crop of competitors climbed the leaderboard Saturday to challenge him.

Oosthuizen managed a 3-under round, and now enjoys a four-stroke lead entering the final round of the tournament. Oosthuizen has never won a PGA Tour event, and in his seven previous major appearances, he’s only managed to make the cut once.

Paul Casey crept within a stroke of Oosthuizen’s lead before eventually settling at four strokes behind. His 5-under round tied for the best of the day.

Also at 5-under for the day was Henrik Stenson, who moved 24 slots up the leaderboard to tie for fourth place. Stenson managed to eagle the 13th hole and answer his two bogeys with five birdies. Germany’s Martin Kaymer shot 4-under to gain sole possession of third place.

Here’s how the leaderboard looks entering Round 4:

If Tiger Woods were to win the 2010 British Open, it would make his fourth Open Championship win and his third at hallowed St. Andrews, but perhaps even more importantly, it would mark a return to the top. Woods, after all, hasn’t won a Major since 2008, and has been plagued since by injuries and the personal issues we’re all well familiar with.

Unfortunately for Woods, a win at St. Andrews this year is extremely unlikely. Woods really needed to make a charge in Round 3 after a 1-over Round 2 that snapped his momentum; instead, his 1-over Round 3 on Saturday has brought him to 3-under for the tournament.

A brief update on how America’s two most popular golfers are faring on Saturday at the British Open:

Through eight holes, Tiger Woods stands at 2-over for the day, and 2-under for the tournament. This drops him into a tie for 30th place, nine shots removed from the lead. Woods has won twice at St. Andrews, in 2000 and 2005, but he’ll need to turn things around immediately and finish strong in Round 3 in order to make a charge on Sunday.

Phil Mickelson’s Round 3 has been inconsistent. He bogeyed the second hole, birdied holes 3, 6, 9, and 13, then double-bogeyed the 16th. As Mickelson approaches his 18th hole, he stands at 1-under for the tournament.

At St. Andrews on Saturday, a number of golfers with early tee times have managed to vault themselves into competition.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson has shot 4-under through his first twelve holes of the day, playing bogey-free golf to move up to the top of the leaderboard. He’s finding company with opponents who are just now hitting the course, but Stenson is, at the very least, in position to make a move on Sunday. Stenson has won two PGA Tour events, but never a major.

Here are the Round 3 tee times for all the golfers who managed to make the cut at the 2010 British Open, from the official Open Championship website. All times Eastern.

On Saturday, Round 3 of the 2010 British Open will commence (3 P.M. Eastern, ABC), but not before Round 2, which was suspended due to wind and subsequently suspended due to darkness on Friday, concludes. Ten groups have yet to complete Round 2, and the round will resume at 6:30 A.M. Eastern.

Among the golfers who have yet to finish their second round is England’s own Steven Tiley, who currently stands at 6-under for the tournament -- good for a tie for third place at the moment -- and has eight holes left to play before beginning Round 3.