Louis Oosthuizen takes control of US PGA Tour playoff in Boston

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Most expected a Rory McIlroy-Tiger Woods showdown but Louis Oosthuizen left the big names in the dust at the US PGA Tour playoff.

EVERYONE expected a Rory McIlroy-Tiger Woods showdown but South African Louis Oosthuizen left the big names in the dust in the third round at the US PGA Tour playoff in Boston.

Oosthuizen carded an impressive eight-under par 63, a round including a record run of seven straight birdies, and a front nine record 29, to move to 19-under par for the tournament, three clear of world No.1 McIlroy.

McIlroy shot a tidy 67 in the third round but was left with a three-shot deficit in second place at 16-under, while Woods (68) stayed in a tie for third but will start the final round six shots off the pace at 13-under par.

John Senden remained the leading Australian but his one-under par round of 70 leaves him at eight under par for the week, a distant 11 shots off the pace in a tie for 14th.

Oosthuizen tore the front nine of the TPC Boston layout to shreds, carding seven birdies in breaking the old record of 30 held by eight players including Australian Adam Scott.

"It was obviously probably the start anyone would dream of on that front nine," Oosthuizen said.

"I made everything, so you get those days where you just look at a putt and you hole it."

McIlroy, no stranger to hot rounds of golf, was impressed by his rival's efforts, but impressively fought back from six down through 10 holes to finish the day just three back.

"You think going out with a one shot lead and shooting four under par, that you might still be in the lead going into the last day but Louis put on a display out there," McIlroy said.

"It was great to watch. Louis is the sort of player that can do that.

"He's very explosive, and he didn't really put a foot wrong today.

"But I'm very happy with my round, and very happy that I am still in touching distance going into tomorrow."

Despite being the highest-placed Australian, Senden said he "didn't play that great".

"I was a little bit scattered and didn't hit the quality shots so to get through at one-under when I was battling mentally, I didn't really hurt myself too bad," he said.

"With the scores how they are now I just need to go out there with confidence tomorrow, forget about the numbers, and just get involved in what I'm doing."

Adam Scott was the next best Australian at seven under par for the tournament, tied 16th but 12 shots off the lead.

Greg Chalmers (-3), Aaron Baddeley (-1), Jason Day (Even), Marc Leishman (Even) and Geoff Ogilvy (+1) round out the Australian efforts.

All except Day and Baddeley are safe into the next round of the playoffs regardless of their final round efforts.

Day and Baddeley are faced with the prospect of needing super low rounds, probably five-under-par or better, on the final day to have a chance to advance to Indianapolis next week.

Third round scores (par-71):

194: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 66 65 63

197: Rory McIlroy (NIR) 65 65 67

200: Dustin Johnson (USA) 67 68 65, Tiger Woods (USA) 64 68 68

202: Bryce Molder (USA) 65 69 68, Ryan Moore (USA) 64 68 70

203: Charley Hoffman (USA) 67 67 69, Jason Dufner (USA) 67 66 70

204: Brandt Snedeker (USA) 69 70 65, David Hearn (CAN) 67 69 68, Phil Mickelson (USA) 68 68 68, Jeff Overton (USA) 64 71 69, D.A. Points (USA) 68 65 71

205: Webb Simpson (USA) 69 70 66, John Senden (AUS) 66 69 70

206: Jim Furyk (USA) 69 72 65, Steve Stricker (USA) 69 69 68, Adam Scott (AUS) 69 69 68

207: Keegan Bradley (USA) 71 73 63, Nick Watney (USA) 72 69 66, Matt Every (USA) 71 68 68

208: John Merrick (USA) 68 72 68, Lee Westwood (ENG) 68 71 69, Kevin Stadler (USA) 68 71 69, Chris Kirk (USA) 63 70 75, Noh Seung-Yul (KOR) 62 71 75

209: Luke Donald (ENG) 67 72 70, Troy Matteson (USA) 72 67 70, Tom Gillis (USA) 69 69 71, Ernie Els (RSA) 69 69 71, Ted Potter Jr. (USA) 69 68 72

210: Vijay Singh (FIJ) 73 69 68, Dicky Pride (USA) 69 72 69, Johnson Wagner (USA) 70 71 69, William McGirt (USA) 69 72 69, J.B. Holmes (USA) 72 69 69, Pat Perez (USA) 69 72 69, Bo Van Pelt (USA) 69 71 70, Hunter Mahan (USA) 68 72 70, Jonas Blixt (SWE) 67 72 71, Greg Chalmers (AUS) 69 68 73

211: Bill Haas (USA) 71 72 68, Kyle Stanley (USA) 70 70 71, Robert Garrigus (USA) 71 67 73

212: Matt Kuchar (USA) 70 74 68, Aaron Baddeley (AUS) 68 74 70, Bud Cauley (USA) 68 73 71, Zach Johnson (USA) 70 71 71, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 68 65 79

213: Sean O'Hair (USA) 70 74 69, Roberto Castro (USA) 72 72 69, John Huh (USA) 71 73 69, Marc Leishman (AUS) 72 71 70, Josh Teater (USA) 71 71 71, Tommy Gainey (USA) 72 70 71, Jason Day (AUS) 68 73 72, Daniel Summerhays (USA) 71 70 72, George McNeill (USA) 71 70 72, Bob Estes (USA) 71 69 73, Ian Poulter (ENG) 67 71 75

214: J.J. Henry (USA) 69 73 72, Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 72 69 73

215: Rickie Fowler (USA) 71 72 72, Scott Piercy (USA) 72 70 73

216: Jimmy Walker (USA) 73 71 72, Brian Harman (USA) 71 73 72, Harris English (USA) 70 73 73, Martin Flores (USA) 72 71 73, Blake Adams (USA) 69 73 74, Brendon De Jonge (ZIM) 70 73 73, Carl Pettersson (SWE) 71 70 75

217: Kevin Na (USA) 69 75 73, Jonathan Byrd (USA) 72 72 73, Scott Stallings (USA) 70 73 74

218: Mark Wilson (USA) 74 70 74, Bae Sang-Moon (KOR) 69 72 77

219: Graeme McDowell (NIR) 74 70 75, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 70 74 75