Retief Goosen produced the lowest score all week taking the venom out of the Copperhead course with a sizzling seven under par 64 at the Innisbrook Resort in Tampa.

Goosen gave no warning of what lay ahead when he pared his opening six holes before completing the next dozen holes in seven under par that included three birdies in succession from the seventh and then birdies at 12 and 13 before taking the sting out of the opening two holes of the three hole closing stretch known as The Snake Pit.

Retief Goosen takes the venom out of the Snake Pit with a sizzling 64. (Photo – Golf Channel)

The South African’s round was his lowest in 21 rounds in 2014 and two shots fewer than a 66 he shot on the third day of the Sony Open in Hawaii.

As well, it put Goosen into the clubhouse lead and in an event he captured in 2009 but before being overhauled by Australia’s John Senden who also shot a 64 to move to six under par.

“Yesterday I actually sort of played okay but didn’t make a single putt and even today walking down six I said to my caddy Mark, ‘I can’t make a putt’ and suddenly I made one on seven and, halleluiah, it started happening,” he said.

“This morning I was in the second group out and the course was perfect.

“I managed to make a 15-footer on seven with a big right-to-left break and from there on suddenly the hole was bigger.  Made a few up and downs while the chip-in on 16 was a big turn around for the round.

“This golf course doesn’t give up too much.  A bad shot sometimes, sometimes a good shot doesn’t end up well.

“So in saying that I didn’t birdie a single par 5 today, so it’s a tricky course, you know. and once you start messing up around the flags it hard to get up and down.”

And with a round to go victory at the Innisbrook Resort would be the 45-year old’s first victory anywhere since he won here in 2009.

“I feel fairly comfortable on this golf course and it’s one where you obviously have to play well,” he said.

“I seem to see the lines very good on the greens here, good feel for some of the shots required and hopefully tomorrow I can get something going.  Not much has happened for me the last couple of years and hopefully tomorrow is the day.”