Oosthuizen Rallies in 3rd Round; He's Tied for 13th at Phoenix Open
Sunday, February 13, 2022

   After making a good late surge to make the cut by three strokes at the WM Phoenix Open Friday, Louis Oosterhuizen forged an even better finish in round 3 yesterday to keep himself in range of the leader.

    Louis was 5 under par heading into Saturday with rounds of 67 and 70, seven strokes behind surprising Sahith Theegal's 66-64-130. Seminole Brooks Koepka was right on Theegala's tail with a pair of 66's, and he was tied for second with Xander Schauffele (67-65-132) at 10 under. Patrick Cantlay was one more behind after 67-66-133. Gator Billy Horschel was tied for 14th with 67-69-136.

    Louis started off round 3 as if he was going to drop well down the board in his quest to take a big check back to Ocala from the $8.2 million purse. Playing the back nine first, he was 2 over par after seven holes, then made par on the next five. With six holes remaining, he had dropped to 3 under, with seemingly no chance to collect a big check, no less win the tournament.

    Then a funny thing happened. While the leaders continued to slowly make birdies, Louis made an eagle on the par-5 13th, did it again on the par-5 15th, and closed with birdies on 17 and 18. He had played the last six holes in 6 under and soared to minus 9, which turned out to be just five behind Theegala. He wound up tied for 13th. 

    Koepka goes into the finale one stroke back after a 68 Saturday, and Scottie Scheffler (62), Cantlay, Talor Gooch and Schauffele are all at 12 under. There are five more at 11 under and today we can expect a major shootout at the TPC Scottsdale corral.  

       

 

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