Louis Oosthuizen clung to a one-shot lead after three rounds of the rain-affected Malaysian Open on Sunday as he eyed immediate atonement for his US Masters heartbreak.

The South African, completing his last seven holes after repeated showers on Saturday, bogeyed the 13th but birdied the par-four 16th for a 69 and 13-under-par 203, keeping his nose ahead of Stephen Gallacher.

Scotland’s Gallacher, starting the day a shot back from Oosthuizen, briefly snatched the lead with a pair of birdies but he dropped a shot on the 17th and remains alone in second at the European and Asian Tour event.

Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina and England’s Danny Willett were two back at 11-under, with India’s Jyoti Randhawa and David Lipsky of the United States on 10-under.

Former world No.1 Martin Kaymer was five off the lead on eight-under par, and first-round leader and 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel shot 70 to go seven-under.

Six-time European Tour winner Alvaro Quiros was three-under while New Zealand major-winner Michael Campbell, searching for his first win since 2005, was two-under.

One week ago at Augusta, Oosthuizen came agonisingly close to winning his second major but he lost out on the second play-off hole to free-hitting American Bubba Watson.

Round four was already underway but forecasters warned of more possible storms after rain delays on Friday and Saturday at the par-72 Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

AFP