South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen fired 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 (six meters) 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… 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.
McIlroy, who claimed his second career major title at the PGA Championship in August, opened with back-to-back birdies. Playing alongside him, Oosthuizen also birdied the second but didn’t begin to pull away until the fourth.
