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Final round pairing for Jose Maria Olazabal
Jose Maria Olazabal rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the last for a four-under-par 68 to stay in the hunt for the 134th British Open after Saturday's third round.
The 39-year-old Spaniard, who qualified for the tournament only three weeks ago after the withdrawal of compatriot Seve Ballesteros, finished at 10-under 206, just two strokes behind leader Tiger Woods.
"What can I say? I'm enjoying this tournament a lot," a beaming Olazabal told a news conference.
"I've had three great days on this golf course and I'll try to have as much fun as possible tomorrow."
Twice U.S. Masters champion Olazabal, whose best Open finish was third at Muirfield in 1992, began a third successive day of relatively calm weather at St Andrews five strokes off the pace.
He soon got to work, though, picking up shots at the fifth and ninth to reach the turn in two-under 34.
Boosted by an eagle-two at the par-four 12th where he drove the green and holed out from 20 yards, he was able to recover from his only bogey of the day on 13 with his late lift at the 18th.
"I played well today and hit the ball nicely," said the Spaniard, who missed out in last month's European leg of international qualifying for the Open at Sunningdale.
"I played really solid on the back nine. I had been struggling at the last four or five events, not really hitting the ball that well.
"But I started hitting a few good shots earlier this week and I've tried to feed from that feeling."
Olazabal, whose Masters victories came in 1994 and 1999, accepts he is fortunate to be playing in his 20th Open this week.
"Obviously, it's a bonus to be here, especially at St Andrews," said the Spaniard, who made it into the major as the highest world-ranked player not exempt when Ballesteros was forced to withdraw.
"When the R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club) made a phone call to the office and said I was first reserve and then I got in, I was absolutely delighted.
"I do have a lot of respect for the golf course, for the tradition and for what it means. Just being able to be part of it this year is wonderful."
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