Still on the Saint Andrews course, the Norwegian Viktor Hovland (-5 Saturday) and the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (-5 Saturday) were at -15 in total after the 11th hole, while the American Cameron Young (-2 Saturday) and Australian Cameron Smith (0 Saturday) were at -13 after the 11.

"I didn't know how to get the most out of my game", regretted the 29-year-old Frenchman, while being "rather happy" with a "good game overall".

"Once again, I did not return these putts at 5, 6, 7m that return the leaders", he however lamented.

After a solid first leg with two birdies, then a birdie on 10 to start the comeback well, Perez missed his first shot on par 3 on 11 and couldn't do better than bogey.

He followed up with four bad shots on the par 4 of the 12th which once again cost him a shot (bogey).

"It would have been good for the game to get carried away", admitted Perez who thought he was "in a good dynamic after the 9-10 passage".

"I don't have such a bad first shot on 11, then behind the green I chip well, but I miss the putt," he explained.

"At 12, I may be making a mistake but it's a flag that is not easy. Everyone wants to drive, to get closer, but as soon as we are on the wrong side of a big goal , on this course, it is never easy", he analyzed.

"It's a bit of a shame, this mid-game where we have the impression that it could perhaps have engaged a little more," he regretted.

He again conceded a bogey on the ruthless 17th hole but made up for it with a birdie on the 18th.

Frenchman Victor Perez, at the start of the 18th hole, during the 3rd round of the British Open, on July 16, 2022 on the course of Saint Andrews (Scotland) Paul ELLIS AFP

"It's always good to end with a birdie on the 18th, it makes the day taste a bit better. It would have been a shame to end with 3 bogeys and missed chances on the 14th and 18th which are really the two holes where we can make a birdie on the return, with the 10", he insisted.

Friday, the French N.1 had passed the cut of a Major for the first time since the PGA Championship 2020 which he had finished 22nd, after having already finished 46th in the Masters the same year.

He then missed the cut in his next six Majors.

© 2022 AFP