ANYONE’S GAME
Oosthuizen, Ortiz share lead in Oman while chasing pack of five just a shot behind
Muscat - Louis Oosthuizen ended 2023 with two victories on home soil and it appears that could signify the start of something big this season as he moved into a share of the thirdround lead on Saturday in the $2 million International Series Oman.
He carded a 5-under 67 at Al Mouj Golf in Muscat to take pole position at 12 under with Mexico's Carlos Ortiz, who shot a 68.
Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, in with the best round of the day – a 65 – is one shot back in a tie for third with Justin Quiban (67), Travis Smyth (68), Chinese amateur Sampson Zheng (68) and Peter Uihlein (70).
Mito Pereira, who led after Round 2, had a poor day, signing for a 76 to tumble down the leaderboard. He is 7 under and in a tie for 15th.
South Africa’s Oosthuizen won the Alfred Dunhill Championship and Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open back-to-back in December and made his move today clearly enjoying the challenge that Al Mouj Golf – voted by the Asian Tour players as the joint best course last year – of
fers.
“I played well,” said Oosthuizen, winner of The Open in 2010 and also a runner-up in six other majors and third in two more. “The greens are very firm. It’s good, they are running true.
You need to really focus on where you want to land that second shot, so hitting fairways is very important.”
Ortiz has also kept a remarkably clean sheet with the only blemish coming on his very first hole on Thursday, where he made a double.
The appearance of Prom on the leaderboard has been accompanied by a roar of applause on the Asian Tour.
The popular 39-year-old is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, but his last win came back at the 2014 Yeangder Tournament Players Championship.
He said: “Playing 7-under for me on this golf course when it is windy is great.”