SOUTHPORT, England – American Anthony Kim's ball was blown 15 yards off the 10th green in Saturday's third round at the British Open, highlighting a bruising day when gale-force winds gusted up to 72-kph (45-mph).

Kim, a newcomer to links course golf who is nonetheless relishing the experience, failed three times to mark his ball on the exposed green en route to making a regulation par four.

He and playing partner Ross Fisher of Britain took 45 minutes to complete the hole while conferring with rules officials before ending the round feeling like battle survivors.

“It was a rough day but I hung in there and it felt great to make eagle on 17 and end on a positive note,” Kim told reporters after carding a one-over-par 71.

“It felt like we went through a war especially on 10 when we had a 45-minute delay. I didn't know what was going on.

“The ball was blown seven feet back after I first put it back down. So we just waited and wondered if there was any foul play.”

Kim, a rising talent on the PGA Tour where he has triumphed twice this season, watched in amazement as his ball was blown backwards another couple of feet.

ROLLING BALL

“I called the rules official and he said when it stops mark it,” he said. “So I marked it and put the ball behind my coin for the official to see and it rolled probably five or six yards off the green, 15 yards total.

“There was no reason to keep putting it down because it was getting farther and farther away.”

Kim, ranked 13th in the world, parred the next six holes before his eagle at the 17th lifted him to a seven-over total of 217.

Despite feeling battered and bruised in his British Open debut, he has delighted with the experience.

“This is awesome,” said Kim who is already bracketed with Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Australian Adam Scott among the game's best players aged under 30.

“I actually like playing in this stuff. I grew up playing where the conditions weren't the best and your lies weren't the greatest. I'm having a blast out there.

“I feel like I am playing really well. The putts aren't falling right now but that putt fell on 17 so I'm going to try and build on that and get off to a solid start tomorrow and hopefully finish off the tournament well.”

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)