Davis Love III likes his position going into the British Open final round on Sunday, when he will play in the last group out in the company of the pacesetting Thomas Bjorn.

Love bounced back from a poor start to card a one-over-par 72 at a sun-drenched Royal St George's on Saturday, finishing one stroke behind Denmark's Bjorn, who fired a 69.

"I was intent on making that putt on that last hole so I could be in the last group, so I could watch the action from behind and know what I had to do," said the 39-year-old American, who had to hole out from seven feet to par the 18th.

"This is going to be like last year," he added. "There's going to be four or five guys than can win this tournament with just a few holes to go. It's going to very tight.

"It's what you expect in a major and there's a lot of great players up there with a chance."

Ernie Els won last year's British Open in a four-way playoff at Muirfield.

Love, the 1997 U.S. PGA champion, began day three at Sandwich two strokes clear of the field, but surrendered his advantage with bogeys at the first, the fifth and the eighth.

He dropped a fourth shot at the par-three 11th, but hit back with an eagle-three at the 550-yard 14th, where he rifled a one-iron to 30 feet and made the putt.

"I made a nice eagle on 14 and parred all the way in, when the wind was laying down and the holes weren't playing terribly hard.

"But I'm not happy with the way I started. The easy holes I gave strokes away and didn't take advantage of some opportunities in the middle of the round.

"All in all, I like my position but, just like everybody out there, I felt I left some shots out on the course today.

"If I'd scrambled well and long-putted well today, I'd be in great shape.

"I know I haven't played my best round this week, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page