Mike Cormack

The only player with a major championship to his credit on the first page of the Canadian Open leaderboard might be the man to watch on Sunday.

South Africa’s Trevor Immelman, the 2008 Masters champion, is still not feeling 100 per cent healthy several months after undergoing wrist surgery, yet he carded a third-round 65 at St. George’s Saturday and sits at 10-under par, five shots behind leader Dean Wilson.

The round was Immelman’s best on the PGATour this year by two shots, but more important, it told him his game is almost back to top form after two years of struggles.

"It’s been a long, hard road," he said Saturday. "This is the first time in two years that I’ve played three weeks in a row. So that’s been tough for me; to feel like my game’s been coming around and really (be able) to test myself competitively."

Entering this week, Immelman had missed the cut in his previous three U.S. starts. But he showed signs of life recently in Europe with a T11 at the Scottish Open two weeks ago and a solid T23 at the Open Championship that included a final-round 68.

"From a comfort level on the golf course and mentally, I’m starting to feel more like I did when I was playing my best," he said.

Immelman, who clearly reads the papers, also chimed in post-round with a defence of the golf course, and the talent level of PGA Tour peers.

"Guys are talking a lot about the course," he said. "I’m reading stuff in the media about St. George’s getting slayed, and stuff like that. I mean, that’s fair enough, but players are getting damn good too, you know.

"For Carl (Pettersson) to go out and shoot a 60…I mean, that’s unbelievable golf. So you’ve got to give him credit for that."

Clark comes up short on the greens

Tim Clark is disappointed with his third-round 69, but he’s not blaming it on the fact the wet conditions Saturday forced to him a use a hybrid club for his approach shot on four par-4s for the first time this week.

"I just didn’t make any putts really," he explained. "I managed to make a birdie there on 15, and that was really one of the only putts I made all day. And then that three-putt on 18 just wasn’t good."

With the course expected to play soft again on Sunday, the reigning Players Champion said his lack off distance off the tee may prevent him from reaching a par-5, but it shouldn’t necessarily hurt his chances.

"Dean (Wilson), who’s leading the tournament, is probably the same length off the tee as me," he said. "And I think all the guys on the leaderboard are guys who hit it straight, which is great to see. This is a golf course that rewards the ball in the fairway, so it’s been a joy to be here."

As for Sunday, Clark added starting the day four adrift of the lead will result in a change of strategy.

"I’m just going to have to go out (Sunday) and be aggressive and try to apply some pressure."

Hadwin stuck in neutral

Saturday was a roller-coaster day for Abbortsford, BC’s Adam Hadwin at the Canadian Open.

The 22-year-old Canadian Tour star began the day at 6-under par and was still in the mix after a birdie at 11 got him to 7-under, but a pair of bogeys coming in left him with an even par round of 70 and T28 tied for low Canadian with Jon Mills, who carded a 66.

"I was trying to be aggressive, maybe too aggressive on a couple of shots," he explained, "but I really felt like I could have played well and maybe pushed it to double digits today."

The highlight of his round came on the par-5 ninth, where he closed with an eagle.

"That crowd roar at nine for my eagle was—I was shaking," he said. "I could feel it all the way in my innermost bones. So it was really cool."

And although he’ll begin the final round 11 shots back, Hadwin still believes anything is possible.

"Pettersson put up a 60 (Saturday) so obviously it’s out there," he said. "I don’t see why I can’t shoot a 60 either. I’m hitting it well, just a few more putts to go in and it could be lights out."