Oosthuizen Fires 64 to Tie Todd for Lead in Byron Nelson Championship


Louis Oosthuizen carded a 6-under 64 to rise to the top of the leaderboard with 36-hole leader Brendon Todd in the $6.9 million Byron Nelson Championship. Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, recorded eight birdies and two bogeys to match Todd at 10-under 200.

Oosthuizen, who withdrew from the event a year ago because of a neck injury, fired the low round of the day at TPC-Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas. "The last year and a half was really frustrating for me," Oosthuizen said of a star-crossed recent stretch that included various aches and pains that prevented him from competing.

"Every opportunity I had for birdie, I actually made," the 31-year-old South African noted of his round. "I am playing really well this week and today was a good scoring day for me. I am putting really well and I also hit the ball well with the irons."

Todd, a two-time Web.com Tour winner in search of his first title on the PGA Tour, came off a 64 Friday to take the overnight lead. On Saturday the 28-year-old had three birdies and a bogey for his 2-under-par round. He gained a spot in Sunday's final group with Oosthuizen thanks to a birdie on the par-4 last.

Tied for second at 9-under are Americans James Hahn (65) and Gary Woodland (66), and Canada's Mike Weir, who has carded rounds of 68, 67 and 66 on the par-70 course. Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, is seeking his first Tour title since the 2007 Frys Electronics Open.

The final round promises to be a shootout since there are another four players only two behind the leaders. Tied for sixth at 8-under 202 are Ireland's Padraig Harrington (66) and three players who carded 68s - Canada's Graham DeLaet, Australian Marc Leishman and American Morgan Hoffman.

Only three back are Aussie Greg Chalmers (65) and Americans Boo Weekley (68) and Charles Howell III (69). Tied for 13th at 6-under are John Huh (66) and Matt Kuchar (68).

Paul Casey, who matched the all-time Tour record for a back-nine score of 27 while shooting a 63 Saturday, posted a 3-over 73 to drop into a tie for 27th at 3-under 207.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.