The Open 2010: The best images from day three

After day two's winds and the resulting fuss about favouritism, it's a relief to see the sun shining at St Andrews and the flags just fluttering rather than flapping vigorously Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

All eyes are on Steve Marino as he tries a delicate chip over the Road Hole bunker. The American had a consistent round including a number of birdies to finish three under on the day and two under in the tournament Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

On the ninth, Colin Montgomerie was greeted by applause and cries of "Come on Captain" which did the trick as he birdied. This success was replicated as he birdied the 18th, with a bogey, a birdie and a double bogey in between Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Ian Poulter, wearing quite a respectable outfit by his standards, escapes from the Road Hole bunker, which means he can't blame today's poor performance on his clothes. It started off poorly with a bogey on the first, followed by a double bogey on the seventh and a bogey on the 16th which means he was four over on the day and languishes in 72nd position. It got worse for him as he is reported to have spoken to the police after being involved in a row with a fan and a steward Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Last year's champion Stewart Cink had a hard time in the wind on the second day and despite coming in one under on day three, he has no chance of retaining his title from 38th position Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Sergio Garcia slices his tee shot on the second hole. That leads to a bogey, and despite another one on the 17th, his three birdies means he finishes the day two under and in 12th place Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

F4...miss, H2...miss, B7....hit - you've sunk my battleship! Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

The eyes are on Tiger as he gets some practice on the putting green with his new putter. It looks like it's needed as he finished yesterday one over Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

They're still on him as he tees of on the second... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

...and it's the eyes of the law which are on him as he makes his way down the fairway on the second. Tiger looks worried and it might be because his dream of an unprecedented third Open title looks to be just that as the weather played havoc with his game yesterday Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the observer

Tiger Woods focuses as he lines up a putt. He struggled to convert a number of chances on the greens. He finished the day three under and 12 off the lead Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Ricky Barnes retrieves his ball from the Swilken Burn in front of the first green... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

... before chipping onto the green. The unexpected trip into the water meant he finished the hole one over Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Lee Westwood tees off the first with the imposing R&A clubhouse behind him Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Westwood is partnering Paul Casey who started the day six under. His good form continued into today where a good approach shot 141 yards from the pin makes it onto the green. He took two shots to sink the ball to par the hole Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

It was a better story for him on the second where a beautiful second shot means he birdies the hole Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

It's a tiring business all this watching and walking Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

The overnight leader Louis Oosthuizen goes out and he's 12 under at the start of play. His second shot leaves him with a difficult birdie putt Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

...which he doesn't make, so he needs to sink this for par Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

...but he misses it! So it's a bogey on the first hole and that's not the sort of form which gave him such a commanding lead yesterday. It might be nerves but he'll have to pull his socks up if he wants to win the title Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

The 50-year-old Mark Calcavecchia started the day in second place, but saw his chance of repeating Tom Watson's 2009 performance fall apart with a disastrous nine on the par-five fifth. He completed his stinker of a round on 77, the joint worst score of the day Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Casey's on the back nine now and after racking up five birdies in the first nine still is in contention. On the 10th he clips his approach straight onto the heart of the green ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Though he's still 40 feet away and he sinks the ball in two to par the hole. He'll be looking jealously at his partner Lee Westwood who sinks one from 60 feet for a birdie, his first since the fifth hole on the second day Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Paul Casey drives off the 15th. It's a straighforward hole for the Englishman, as he clips a 7-iron to 15 feet for a birdie opportunity, which he doesn't take and two-putts without fuss Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

A seagull flies by as Westwood and Casey are on the 17th green Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

The seagull misses Casey sinking his putt to par the hole Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Louis Oosthuizen's approach shot on the 17th bounces along and rests by the 18th tee. He then makes a majestic putt to within five feet of the hole, which he easily taps in to par the hole. The South African has been in inspired form again today, and he has needed to be to stay ahead of Casey. He finishes round three under par
Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Westwood hits his tee shot on 18th Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Westwood and Casey make their way towards the Swilken Bridge on the 18th fairway. Westwood birdies the hole to finish the round one under which means he's seven under for the tournament. After an absolutely magical chip onto the green, Casey takes two to finish the hole. That gives him a blemish-free 67 today, but as Oosthuizen birdies the 18th Casey goes into the final day four shots behind, setting up an exciting final day's play as they battle for the famous claret jug Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer