WATSON HOLDS ON !!

Nice day with cross winds blowing on the Ailsa course, strong enough to make play difficult ,a classic round of golf in Scotland at The Open.

Bryce Molder(U.S.A.) shot the best round of the day 3 under par 67 which puts him at level par for the championship and in 10th place as the leader Tom Watson makes the turn at 4 under with bogey at 6,birdie at 7 and another bogey at 9.The 59 years old is holding pretty well in the challenging conditions,he is solo leader since the second hole when Steve Marino who also began the day at -5 dropped the first of 5 shots he lost in a span of 4 holes.Marino would then eagle the 7 and birdie the 11 to come back within 1 stroke of Watson at -3.

16 years old amateur Matteo Manassero who played with Watson on Thursday and Friday must have learned something from the “Old Man “as he shot an excellent 72 and stands at +3 for the tournament. Jaidee Thongchai from Thailand is tied with Molder at level par after a very good 69.

In the last 10 groups only Lee Weswood and Mathew Goggin haven’t dropped any shots in this third round,they are at -2,level par today,1 shot behind Watson who just bogeyed the 12.Mark Calcaveccia +2 today,Ross Fisher +1 and M.A. Jimenez +1 are also at -2.

The australian Mathew Gogging birdied 17 to tie Watson and pared 18 for a round of 69 and the lead in the clubhouse. England’s Lee Westwood also birdied 17 and got a share of the lead but an unforced error from the fairway at 18 led to a bogey for a 70 and 2 under par aggregate.

Great putt from Watson at 14 to save par and keep share of the lead.

Miguel Angel Jimenez is 6 over today after double bogey at 14, bogey at 15 and another double at 16.

Vijay Singh finished with a 75 , 7 bogeys and 2 birdies which puts him at +2, the same as his playing partner japanese Keneshi Kuboya.

Ross Fisher birdied 16,he his 1 off the lead.

Retief Goosen eagled 17 to come back to 2 under par.

Watson relinquinshes the share of the lead with a bogey at 15,Goggin in the club house is solo leader at the moment at -3.Steve Marino takes a 7 at the same hole and drops to +1 total.

Fisher,on the green in two at 17, just misses a putt for eagle but ties the lead with birdie.

Fantastic roar from the crowd as Watson again drills a long putt for birdie at 16 to regain a share of the lead going to the par 5 17th.He loves this hole.

Fisher had a putt to take the lead at 18 but didn’t convert,he shot a level par 70 to remain at -3.

Two magnificent shots from W atson at 17 gives him a chance to roll a putt for eagle and take a 2 shots lead.UNBELIEVABLE !!! He burns the edge of the hole and with birdie takes a 1 shot lead at-4 over Goggin and Fisher.

A tremendous ovation to salute the five time champion as he walked to the 18th green,a great deal of emotion showing on his face. 2 putts for par and a 71 round, 59 years old Tom Watson will start on Sunday with a 1 stroke lead.

Six more players stayed under par for the championship,Mathew Goggin and Ross Fisher at -3, Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen at-2, Jim Furyk and Stewart Cink at -1. Bryce Molder who shot the best round of the day 67 is level par tied for 8th place with the surprising Thongchai Jaidee.

Great round of golf today at The Open Championship in Turnberry,amazing perfermance by Tom Watson who held off all the contenders.Can he do it for one more round? I woudn’t put it pass him.

Calcaveccia 77 today, Jimenez and Marino 76, Singh and Kuboya with 75 lost a lot of ground.

Check out the pairings for Sunday at BetPhoenix.com Sporsbook, pick your favorites and back them up for the last round of The Open.

I think the champion will come from one of the players who are under par because almost all of them are very experienced and the youngest,Ross fisher,could prove that he is ready to win his first Major.If not tomorrow,it will be soon.