Tom Watson On Verge of Ninth Major Championship

Last year, Greg Norman became the oldest player to lead a major championship after 54 holes at 53 years of age.  He held that record for just twelve months as Tom Watson now leads the Open Championship at Turnberry after three rounds just two months shy of his 60th birthday.  Turning in a round of one-over par 71, Watson stands alone atop the leaderboard of the Open Championship.

Watson went out in 36 shots, but owned a lead as large as two at one point on the front nine.  With Englishman Ross Fisher, Australian Matt Goggin, and two time US Open Champion Retief Goosen holding steady in front of him, Watson lost the lead to clubhouse leader Goggin after a dropped shot at the 15th hole.

Watson rallied, though, with a heavy swinging left to right effort for birdie on the treacherous 16th hole - a hole he has birdied in the last two rounds.  He then made an easy birdie on the par 5 17th, which was nearly an eagle.  On the final hole, Watson made a carefree par to secure his one stroke lead and a place in the final group with Matt Goggin.

Though there are still 18 difficult holes the separate Watson from the championship, it is difficult not to consider the possibilities of a Watson win.  Obviously, Watson would become the oldest player to ever win a major championship - eclipsing Julius Boros' 1968 PGA Championship win at age 48 by more than a decade.  Second, he would tie Harry Vardon's Open Championship record with six Claret Jugs to his credit.  Also, he would tie Gary Player and Ben Hogan with nine career major championships.  Finally, he would hold the record as the oldest player to lead a major championship after every round.  Despite not leading the first round of this British Open, he did have a share of the first round lead at the 2003 US Open with Brett Quigley.

Watson begins his final round tomorrow at 3pm GMT.