British Open Heads for Furious Finish With Stars Tight at the Top

Louis Oosthuizen, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth are battling one another — and their nerves — with just a few strokes separating them atop the leaderboard.

SANDWICH, England — Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth had much in common as the third round of the British Open ended on Saturday in the sort of gentle breezes and golden, early evening light more associated with Augusta National than the English seaside. Morikawa and Spieth are precocious and thoughtful American golf stars in their 20s who have proved that they can win a major championship. Both are still in hot pursuit of Louis Oosthuizen, the mild-mannered South African who remains in the lead but hardly in charge of this major with just one round to play at Royal St. George’s. Oosthuizen is 12 under par. Morikawa, who was paired with him on Saturday, is one shot back at 11 under. Spieth is in third at nine under.