The Open - History beckons for veteran Watson

Eurosport - Sun, 19 Jul 15:38:00 2009

Veteran Tom Watson will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry, as he seeks to become the oldest player to win a Major.

Tom Watson, Open Championship 2009, Turnberry - 0

The 59-year-old American shot a battling one-over-par 71 in swirling crosswinds on Saturday, calling upon his vast experience to navigate the Ailsa Course and post a four-under-par total of 206.

England's Ross Fisher and Australian Matthew Goggin are one back at three under par, with Lee Westwood among a group of players at two under.

Watson looked to be struggling after bogeys at 12 and 15, but the five-times Open champion sunk a monster putt for birdie at the 16th and picked up another at the 17th to ensure his place in Sunday's final pairing.

Alongside Watson will be the unheralded Goggin, who shot a superb 69 on Saturday - and was one of just six players to break par in the third round.

Fisher ended day three where he started it, carding a level-par 70 that culminated with birdies at 16 and 17 and will see the Wentworth golfer partnered by his countryman Westwood on Sunday.

Westwood shot a composed 70 and looked every bit a Major contender, but was left to rue a miscued drive at the last that cost him a dropped shot and the chance to get to three under.

Westwood was joined by Retief Goosen at two under par, after the South African recovered from two back-nine bogeys with an eagle at the par-five 17th.

American's Stewart Cink and Jim Furyk will tee off in the final round three shots behind Watson at one under par.

With wind and rain forecast for Sunday, there is every chance that the winning mark will be close to level par - giving hope to every one of the 26 players within six shots of the lead.

That group includes Master champion Angel Cabrera (+1), England's Justin Rose (+2), Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (+2) and American former champion John Daly (+2).

But for the chasing pack all hope relies on Watson relinquishing his grip on a championship he holds dearer than most - at a course he knows better than most, having won the 1977 Open at Turnberry in the famous 'Duel in the Sun' against Jack Nicklaus.

If Watson does hold on to lift the Claret Jug for the sixth time, he will be 11 years older than Julius Boros when he won the 1968 US PGA Championship, aged 48.

More than that, he will have orchestrated arguably the greatest shock in the history of Major championship golf.

You can follow LIVE text commentary of Sunday's final round from 11am right here at Eurosport-Yahoo!

Will Tidey / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. lets hope the goose does not spoil the party

    From sanchez.santos, on Sun 19 Jul 1:34PM

  2. yes why does he look so much older than his age? clever­ disguise that, i bet he backed himself at a thousand­ to one. he deserves to win IMHO.

    From sanchez.santos, on Sun 19 Jul 1:32PM

  3. Age shall not weary them.Ability and gracious behaviour­ always succeds..Well played Tom Watson.You deserve the­ lead..I hope you win...

    From beau, on Sun 19 Jul 11:17AM

  4. fair play watson, keep it up i hope your still at the­ top when i get back from work!! if not ill take­ westwood or fisher!!!! james in wales

    From james_devlin_slag, on Sun 19 Jul 9:13AM

  5. If Lee Weestwood plays like he has for the past 3 days­ from tee to green and a few putts drop for him he has­ got to have a great chance

    From Phil, on Sun 19 Jul 8:58AM

  6. i would love an englishman to win the open but i could­ not begrudge tom watson winning, he`s a great champion­ and a credit to golf and at just three years younger­ than me it would put a spring in my step.
    C'­ mon you golfers give us a day to remember and may the­ best man win!

    From KEN, on Sun 19 Jul 8:51AM

  7. Dear BBC please do not show some bloke at the end of­ the day engraving the winners name on the claret jug.­ This is pointless live television , not big or clever.

    From David, on Sun 19 Jul 7:32AM

  8. Well done, Tom Watson. What an ambassador for world­ golf and sport. All the best in the final round. The­ way you conduct yourself both on and off the course is­ excellent and an example for youngsters to follow.­ Montgomerie, take note you ill mannered moody­ person.
    Pete Bristol

    From reeves144, on Sun 19 Jul 6:23AM

  9. zm_shafiq YOU SAD AR SED BA S T ARD, THIS IS THE BEST­ THING TO HAPPEN IN GOLF FOR 30 YEARS, COME ON­ WATSON!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Deep Sea Diver, on Sun 19 Jul 6:14AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I'M NOT HAPPY BECAUSE T.WOODS HAS BEEN MISSED CUT­ AT SECOND ROUND...

    From zm_shafiq, on Sun 19 Jul 4:50AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    VERY STRANGE. I just saw him on _____LovingRich * COMe­ webSite________.Is he Sing-le again?
    GOGOLE IT!!you­ will be surprised!

    ~He's with a hoT model­ there.

    __

    From sed_andy, on Sun 19 Jul 2:29AM

  12. Well done so far Tommy ! It's been monster putts­ last couple of days that put him in this position, just­ amazzzzzing stuff. In Life, you have to have Dreams and­ chase after them and here's one everyone would talk­ about forever when he pulls it off. Go Watson !

    From ispurs, on Sun 19 Jul 2:20AM

  13. Well done Tom Watson, all the best in the final round,­ do it for all of us old farts, gives us hope

    From aitch, on Sun 19 Jul 1:40AM

  14. Golf is the winner whatever happens tomorrow but it­ would be great to see a brit triumph .

    From iancampbell11, on Sun 19 Jul 12:23AM

  15. Oh dear Donney, so early on a saraday nite. Do you­ really think Fisher will run if the sprog decides to­ drop?

    From The Trout, on Sat 18 Jul 10:03PM

  16. I love you Donney

    From Ian, on Sat 18 Jul 9:25PM

  17. Donney. Drunk as usual.
    You've got to hope that Tom­ Watson pulls off one of the greatest shocks of sporting­ history. What a story that would be.

    From ALAN G, on Sat 18 Jul 9:22PM
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