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Watson alone at top with clear path to Claret Jug

18 July 2009 21:13 GMT

Tom Watson today took a step closer to becoming a six-time winner of The Open and the chance to join Harry Vardon in the record that was set in 1914. Knocked off the top of the leaderboard for a brief spell this afternoon he regained what seems to be his rightful position with a huge birdie putt across the 16th and a much shorter eagle attempt at the long 17th that shaved the hole.

At 59 years old he leads by one stroke and if he can continue this strong form tomorrow he would become, by 13 years, the oldest winner of a major championship.

Could history repeat itself tomorrow? The man who took the lead from Watson for a brief spell this afternoon was Mathew Goggin of Australia. The native of Hobart, Tasmania, plays on the US PGA Tour and lives in South Carolina. He achieved his lofty position with a three-birdie 69 that moved him up by one shot from his overnight position on a day when the majority of the field slid backwards in a fresh north-westerly wind.

He now shares second place with Ross Fisher, a complete shot-maker who has quietly risen to 21st place in the Official World Golf Rankings and who finished fifth in the US Open last month.

Strengthening the chances of a home victory is the fact that Fisher is closely followed, one shot behind, by Ryder Cup stalwart and multiple tournament winner Lee Westwood. He shares fourth place with double US Open winner Reteif Goosen. The only other players under par after three rounds are another US Open winner, Jim Furyk, and Stewart Cink.

Padraig Harrington’s hopes of catching up with the leaders came to nothing after a rather ragged round of 76. At nine over par he has now ruled himself out of a successful defence of his title.

After a day when the scoreboards were littered with double bogeys and eagles, a total of 26 players are covered by six shots.

A dramatic final day is a certainty.

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