.jpg)
Tom Watson Day 3 British Open Championship Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
2009 British Open Golf Championship: Day 3 standings and Tom Watson is still on top.
If Tom Watson can hang on for 18 more holes, he will make history. After day three the 59-year-old Tom Watson stands tall at the top of the leaderboard. The oldest player to ever win a major was 48-year-old Julius Boros at the PGA Championship 1968. Tom Watson is 59!
Once again the Ailsa course at Turnberry proved that it was no push-over today with only 5 rounds under par and 6 holding on to par.
Today Tom Watson had another up and down round as he had 4 bogies and made 3 birdies. What made his day so special was what he did at hole 16 when he nailed a 30 foot putt for birdie, the same hole that he made around a 70 foot putt yesterday. Then on 17 he was just shy of making eagle and tapped in for birdie to claim the top spot of the leaderboard.
Mathew Goggin and Ross Fisher are doing all they can to prevent Watson from making history. They both stand one shot behind Watson at 3 under par. Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen are also right there at 2 under par with Jim Furyk and Stewart Cink at 1 under.
It is still anybody's tournament to win with 26 players within 7 strokes of the lead. You never know what type of conditions we will see at Turnberry tomorrow. If the wind continues to blow, it will all be about accuracy and strategy.
Of course the thing that most of us will be thinking about on the final day is Tom Watson. He has been such an inspirational story throughout the British Open both in 2009 and 1977. Will the magic continue or will he fade out in the final round like Greg Norman did in his charge for the Claret Jug last year? We will just have to wait and see.
Tom Watson must be feeling inspired playing at Turnberry after his famous "Duel in the Sun" victory in 77 against golf's greatest player ever, Jack Nicklaus. Tom Watson is no stranger to winning; he definitely has his share of Major victories, and he knows how to win with style.
2009 British Open Golf Championship: Day 2 summary
2009 British Open Golf Championship: Day 1 summary
Comments