His charge at the 150th Open Championship on Saturday was gathering pace and he was six-under for the day and seven under overall until he four-putted from 100 feet on the massive 16th green for a double bogey.

He then found himself on the road at the Road Hole 17th, saving par with a masterful chip off the tar.

The American then birdied 18 to sign for a five-under 67, which left him six-under for the tournament and 10 shots behind 54-hole co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland.

"It was definitely an adventurous few holes," DeChambeau said of his misadventures at the 16th, 17th and 18th.

The large galleries kept up a running dialogue with the American on the tees, imploring him to take out his driver and booing when he left it in the bag.

DeChambeau plays off the road behind the 17th green. PHOTO: Getty Images.

On the 18th, he opted to try and drive the green with his four-iron, pulled it left and was lucky to get a free drop from close to a fence, before holing his birdie putt.

After three rounds, DeChambeau said the course, which for a man of his power is short, remains something of a puzzle.

"I don't think you ever know how to play this golf course fully. Every day it's different," he said.

"It showcases a unique golf course each time the wind pops up or doesn't pop up. It's just different. You can't really ever conquer it. You can't ever really control it.

"You've just got to go out there and try to take what it gives you and play the spots in the greens where you can and two-putt where you have to."

While a challenge for the Claret Jug looks beyond him this year, the 28-year-old said he is back to almost full power after needing wrist surgery in April.

"I'm probably 97 to 98 per cent now," he told reporters. "There's every once in a while where my hand gets tired, fatigued still. Hopefully I can start ramping up the speeds again and get myself even more consistent."

– Martyn Herman