3M Open final round preview: All to play for, even Oosthuizen has an outside shot

It's not just that the leaderboard is stacked, it's also that those stacking it are all, in their own way, somewhat hard to get a grasp on.

There are Major winners hoping to emerge from short, medium or long term gloom.

There are multiple, but not frequent, PGA Tour winners.

There are youngsters, journeymen, physical wrecks.

And leading is a fellow looking for a first win in his 308th start.

That man is Cameron Tringale, a three-time runner-up who was also tied third in this event 12 months ago, and who has 13 top 30s this season.

"It's anyone's game really," he said after carding a third round 5-under-par 66 for a 12-under total of 201. "There's probably 15 guys within three shots of me.

"You can go low out here and I think someone will do it tomorrow. Hopefully, it's me."

The 33-year-old first threaten to win at this level ten years ago, heading into the final round of the Texas Open one shot back of the lead before finishing fifth.

Ever since, he has scrapped and scraped a career at this level, but this season his consistency has delivered a security he hopes to take advantage of.

"I'm in a great position," he said. "I don't have stress for my card, I just feel like I have tons of upside tomorrow and I'm excited to kind of play with that freedom

"I'm just going to have fun. I remember last year's round really well and I'm excited.

"I feel like I'm doing everything well in my game for the most part, so just keep my head on straight and try and have some fun and not overthink it."

It won't be straightforward. 2019 US Open champion Gary Woodland is tied second with Maverick McNealy, one shot behind on 11-under.

Moreover, there are eight players sharing fourth on 10-under, among them Charl Schwartzel, Cameron Champ and Pat Perez.

The potential for one of those three or four back to post an early low number and set a clubhouse target that the nervy leaders cannot match is high and best demonstrated by Keith Mitchell's Saturday.

He birdied his first seven holes, starting on the back nine, but couldn't maintain the pace. Still, he's among those four back.

"It was awesome to start," he said and then revealed it could have been better.

"I lipped out for birdie on 17 and had a good chance at 18, but not complaining there."

He also admitted that the golden number of 59 had appeared in his thoughts.

"Oh, absolutely," he said. "Standing on the 16th tee. Hit a great shot, it was like, if I keep swinging like this and executing like this, we're going to have a chance.

"And then the wind picked up and I clearly didn't have a chance.

"Tomorrow will be a lot of fun because there's going to be a lot of guys within maybe four of the lead and, on a course like this when you have the opportunity to make seven birdies in a row, it really gives guys a lot of opportunities tomorrow."

Let's take a closer look at what the two leading chasers had to say and also a few trends.

"Yesterday I didn't feel very good on the golf course and yet it was the best round I played in a year and a half. So I had a lot of confidence with a good warm-up today. A bad drive on 18, but outside of that, I played really, really well today.

"Spent a lot of time with (putting coach) Phil Kenyon last week. The putter feels as good as it has in a long time. Seeing putts go in has been huge, but I'm also starting to hit the golf ball well, I'm starting to control my irons, drive the golf ball semi-in-play the last couple of days. I'm feeling pretty good about my game. Long way to go, but when I trust what I'm doing, I'm pretty good."

"I've felt really good about my game for a while. I've been driving it awesome, especially the last month and a half. A combination of working with Butch Harmon and my body's stronger than it's ever been. I just feel great. And, honestly, since I put this new Epic Speed driver in January, I feel like I can swing as hard as I can and it's not going to go offline. I have so much confidence that I can rip it. It's easier to play from the fairway in a good position and I think if my putter heats up a little bit tomorrow, it will be a lot of fun.

"I really wanted to play in that final group, that would have been a lot of fun, but I've got a chance to win. I've learned every single time I've been in the mix on the back nine Sunday. Picked up a few things here and there. AT&T, Hilton Head and Colonial. I'm excited to put those things into practice tomorrow when the heat's on."

Tringale's only experience of a lead was not good: he shared top spot in the 2019 John Deere Classic, shot 73 and finished T16th. He's seven times been top three with 18 holes to play and is yet to finish in the top three.

Woodland is a four-time winner and has done it all: winning with a lead and winning from two and three back.

McNealy referenced four events this season: he carded a Sunday 66 at Pebble Beach to clinch second when three back at this stage, a 67 at Harbour Town got him fourth, he was in the mix at halfway at Colonial before stepping back at the weekend, and most recently three back after carding 64-65 midway through the Deere Classic - a R4 71 saw him slip back to T18th.

Chez Reavie (currently tied fourth) is looking for a third PGA Tour win - and a third in the week after a Major.

Jhonattan Vegas is a two-time winner of the Canadian, both in late July and both featuring low final rounds: 64 in 2016 to come from five back, a 65 in 2017 to come from three back.

Both those winners also poured in the birdies, ranking top five. Tringale is so far ranked only 38th. Vegas leads that category, McNealy and Woodland are sixth.

The two winners ranked top four for Strokes Gained Approach. The best of those currently in the top 11 are McNealy and Reavie (18th and 19th).

The latter three look the best options.