KJ Choi insists the pressure is off him as he heads into the final round in a seven-strong pack chasing leader Sergio Garcia at the Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Lying second overnight, the South Korean lost ground on Saturday as he could only card a one-over-par 72, while watching many of his rivals shoot sub-par rounds.

He is at three under par, six strokes adrift of Garcia, but still believes his chances of closing in on the Spaniard have improved.

"I really have no regrets, I think a lot can happen so there's really no pressure on me," he said, through an interpreter.

"Steve Stricker shot seven under in these conditions and if I do well tomorrow I could have the same type of a round.

"I still have another 18 holes to go, all I can do is try my best. If I just prepare myself, I can do well tomorrow."

Choi would have had an overnight third place to himself but for a bogey at the last after finding a burn off the tee at the 18th hole.

The 36-year-old, whose best Open finish is tied-22nd in 2003, admitted that the chilly, drizzly conditions did not help him.

He added: "Overall, today was difficult. Going to the back nine, it started to rain and the temperature dropped. I didn't have a feel for my body.

"I don't think I shot that badly today. Some of my putts didn't go in, and I didn't have my rhythm out there.

"It was so cold out there and I hate this kind of weather. Today I bogeyed the last hole, but it's not the end of the world."

Choi, though, insists he will be stronger on Sunday for having played a round in such conditions.

And he has the experience of coming from behind to win twice on the PGA Tour in recent weeks, even if he is not expecting Garcia to do him any favours.

"I'm still maintaining the good swing that I had in those two tournaments, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow," he said.

"If the weather stays as it was today I can anticipate how the course is going to be. Yesterday and today were a lot different, weather-wise.

"Today, the green was very slow and heavy and I kind of lost my feel for it. But now that I've gone through the day knowing how the greens are and how it's going to be tomorrow.

"I think that if I can just gain speed on my putts then I won't have any problems."

He added: "Sergio's condition this week is very good so I'm anticipating he'll finish pretty well.

"You still have a lot of players trying to catch him so you never know."