Casey makes his move

Englands Paul Casey took his aggregate to 11-under after playing five-under through 12 holes.

Louis Oosthuizen recovered after getting off to a shaky start on Saturday. The little-known South African started the third round of the British Open with a four-stroke lead and rolled a 6-foot putt over the right edge of the cup for a bogey at No. 1. However,he soon got into his groove,having hit birdies on the seventh and the ninth holes. Breathing down his neck was Englands Paul Casey,who took his aggregate to 11-under after playing five-under through 12 holes.

The hard-charging Swede Henrik Stenson also made a big jump on the day with a 67 that saw him moving up to joint third position with seven-under. There was no charge from Tiger Woods. Going for his third straight win at the Old Course,he played 1-over 73,slamming clubs and muttering to himself,ending the day 10 shots off the pace.

Even though the wind picked up Saturday afternoon,conditions were much more favorable for the third round than a day earlier,when 14 players including first-round leader Rory McIlroy shot in the 80s. McIlroys roller-coaster ride continued. He played the first 16 holes at 4 under,giving him a shot at the claret jug that appeared to slip away when he followed up an opening 63 tied for the lowest score ever in a major — with an 8-over 80.

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A double-bogey at the Road Hole put a damper on McIlroys comeback,though he did bounce back for a birdie at No. 18 that sent him to the clubhouse with a 4-under 212. Phil Mickelson also showed signs of rallying,getting as low as 4 under. But he,too,ran into late trouble: a double-bogey at No. 16 after he knocked his tee shot off the road and into the hospitality area far right of the fairway,then at bogey at the 17th when his approach landed up against the stone wall behind the green.

Lefty settled for a 70 and a 214 through three rounds,likely to leave him with too large a deficit on the final day to make a serious run at his first Open title. Mark Calcavecchia wasnt able to finish what Greg Norman and Tom Watson started. Playing in the final group with Oosthuizen,the 50-year-old Calcavecchia got off to a rough start with bogeys at the first three holes,knocking him seven strokes behind.

Norman and Watson were in their 50s when they contended at the Open the last two years. With Calcavecchia faltering,51-year-old Tom Lehman moved up to become the top senior golfer at 5 under.

Everyone was chasing Oosthuizen,a 27-year-old regular on the European Tour whos given South Africans another reason to beam please,no vuvuzelas on the heels of successfully hosting World Cup. This is new territory for the player whos given name is Lodewicus Theodorus.

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This is the first time hes ever made the cut in four British Open appearances,and only the second time in nine tries that hes played on the weekend in a major. His lead was large but so was the pressure. And so much depends on the weather,the most bedeviling defense at the seaside course. Its everybodys dream to win the Open, Oosthuizen said,who was 12-under 132 at the midway point after two straight rounds in the 60s. But to win at St. Andrews … you never really think it will happen.