Henrik Stenson of Sweden, reacts after making a putt on the 10th hole during the third round of the men’s golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016.
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“Obviously Henrik [Stenson] is playing great golf but the one shot lead doesn’t mean that much right now, it is about drawing a line in the sand and coming out tomorrow”.
Justin Rose is 18 holes away from making history in becoming the first victor of an Olympic golf title since 1904 after a superb third round in Rio.
Jaco van Zyl is unlikely to challenge for the medals, he finished his third round at two over, but he will always have fond memories of the Games after producing the second hole-in-one of golf’s return to the Olympics.
Fraser, who only made it to Rio when the likes of Jason Day, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman withdrew, continued to take advantage of his call-up as he cruised to 10 under with birdies at the third and fifth, where he nearly holed his wedge approach for an eagle. Bubba’s Golf Shoes American Bubba Watson has taken his love for his country to new heights with his impressive choice of footwear. The furry creatures have been described as everything from pigs to giant rats and dogs. “I came here to win the gold medal and that’s what I’ll be going for”. “It feels like I’m going to wake up from this dream at some point”. On Friday, he had a 68 to go into the weekend at Olympic Golf Course two shots behind and in the final group. He then continued that form in hole five after finding the green in two and holing an 18 foot putt for his second eagle.
Rose shares fourth with Gregory Bourdy (69), while likely Ryder Cup rookie Rafael Cabrera-Bello is one further adrift despite running up a triple-bogey seven at the third after emulating Stenson’s drive into the lake.
“When you’re looking at this situation, you’re looking at the shiniest medal possible”, Rose said.
Rose got off to a flyer, logging two eagles, a birdie and a bogey in the first five holes before settling in until the midway stretch of the back nine where he got hot again between No. 12 and 16, holing another three birdies in the stretch.
“I certainly didn’t play bad golf”. A more settled back nine with three birdies left Stenson one shot behind Rose going into the final round.
Also in that opening threesome was former Cal golfer and U.S. Amateur victor Byeong Hun An.
“I’m glad they decided not to come”, Fraser said.
World No. 6 Bubba Watson of the U.S. was tied for fourth with Sweden’s David Lingmerth and Argentine Emiliano Grillo on six under, six shots off the lead.
Fowler had a 30-foot birdie putt on the opening hole, and four putts later he walked off with a double bogey.
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Rose, a top-10 finisher in four of the past eight majors, said he will have choice words for the more than 20 high-ranked players who snubbed a chance to play in Rio.
