Van de Velde’s verve continues

Each time he bogeyed, he made up for it with a birdie including a 40-foot putt at the 14th and, by the time he had finished with a 70 for even par 213 after three rounds, the nearest challengers were 5-over.

They were Australia’s Craig Parry and 1997 titlist Justin Leonard. Parry moved into contention with the best round so far, a 4-under 67 while Leonard returned a level par 71.

Woods, who double bogeyed the 17th, returned a 74 and is seven-over 220 in a share of fourth place while Norman bogeyed the last two holes for a 75 and is eight over.

Windy conditions that have marked this Open continued in third round, and players again battledthe deep rough and pot bunkers that line the fairways. But overnight rain softened the greens, making them more receptive for iron shots.

Van de Velde faltered early, making a bogey on the second hole after badly pulling an iron shot into the deep rough. He came back with a birdie on the next hole, though, to get back to 1-over.

Another bogey at four was followed by a birdie at seven and he made up for his bogey 5 at the 12th with that stunning 40-footer two holes later. He went to the last with a four-stroke lead, landed his second 30 foot from the hole and made it for his fourth birdie.

Norman, playing with Woods, birdied the first hole to get to 3-over, but then bogeyed the next two holes. Woods had 15 pars and one bogey in 16 holes until he hit the 17th while other leading challengers faltered badly.

Argentina’s Angel Cabrera, second overnight and one behind Van de Velde, dropped to 7 over after a double bogey seven at the sixth and two more bogeys. He finished with a 77 and also is eight over.