The fourth round of the British Open tees off Sunday. Here's a preview:
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EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR NETWORK correspondent Fred Albers previews Sunday's final round:
Playing in the high wind of Friday's second round, Paul Casey might have found something to help him in Sunday's final round. The Englishman noticed his balance in the wind was not right. Casey adjusted his setup at address, getting more centered with his weight on the balls of his feet. The adjustment helped his balance and ball striking as Casey hit 18 of 18 greens in the third round.
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The winner of the British Open remains in doubt but we already know who will be low amateur. Jin Jeong has already secured the silver medal given to the low amateur making the cut. The 20-year-old South Korean was the only amateur to qualify for weekend play. Jeong is ranked 1,360th in the world but does have experience at links golf having won the British Amateur at Muirfield. He is tied for 12th entering the final round at 4-under par.
Rory McIlroy will try to keep a strange streak intact during Sunday's final round. He has never shot in the 70s at St. Andrews. McIlroy says he played several amateur rounds at the Old Course and always shot in the 60's. He began championship play on Thursday with a 63, followed that with an 80 on Friday and shot 69 in the third round. McIlroy has never turned in a score at the Old Course that began with the number 7.
Consider the plight of Steven Tiley. The journeyman pro on the European Tour got everyone's attention by shooting 66 in the opening round. Tiley had the very last tee time on Friday and because of a 65 minute wind delay, did not begin his second round until 5:30. It took him four hours to play 9 holes and when he returned early Saturday morning to finish his round, things did not go well. Tiley doubled the 11th, then followed with bogeys at 12-14-15-16-17 to shoot 79. He then shot 73 in the third round. When Tiley left the Old Course on Friday night he was in 3rd place, when he left on Saturday he was tied for 65th. It can be a cruel game.
INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Ed Brill, head instructor at TOUR Academy Hilton Head Island, analyzes the playing conditions this week:
Louis Oosthuizen maintained his composure Saturday and finished his round with a 3-under 69. Very impressive golf in a major championship for a guy whose resume hasn't been all that notable. I loved the question by the British press asking Oosthuizen if he had rented a place for the entire weekend, (obviously in jest at his propensity for missing cuts) Louis laughed and said "Yes I've rented a house through Sunday."
Did you see the slow motion breakdown of Paul Casey's swing? It showed both feet off the ground as he was striking the ball, pretty impressive, but not exactly textbook. I've noticed it in video with Julie Inskter and Laura Davies. You also see it in tennis players as they are almost jumping at the ball when striking it. Curtis Strange chimed in on the analysis of Casey's swing about the left arm staying close to the body, and swinging left. This allows the club, hands and arms to release and keep you from hitting that ball to the right all day. Try that move with some short, slow swings focusing on letting the lead arm extend and stay close to your side at impact and beyond, rather than having the lead arm bend and go behind you in a chicken wing fashion. Do it without a ball and monitor the clubface, you will see the difference in the open clubface and the square or even slightly closed clubface.
Should be a great finish tomorrow. The oddsmakers aren't looking real good now with their best shot being Westwood, who is eight shots off the lead. My thought of taking the field against the 5 favorites is looking better all the time.