Wonderful Watson keeps title dream alive

By Tony Jimenez

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Golfing wrinkly Tom Watson kept alive his dream of becoming the sport's oldest major champion when another remarkable performance gave him the lead after the British Open third round Saturday.

The 59-year-old American was the star attraction at the Ailsa Course for the third day running, shooting a one-over-par 71 for a four-under total of 206 to move one stroke clear of Australian Mathew Goggin (69) and Briton Ross Fisher (70).

Sharing fourth place on 208 were twice U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (71) and former European number one Lee Westwood (70).

"This old geezer (guy) might have a chance to win like Greg Norman did (going into the final round of the Open) last year," Watson told reporters. "I feel good about what I did today, I feel good about my game plan and who knows? ... it might happen.

"I felt serene. Even though I messed up a couple of times, I didn't let it affect me.

"I ended on a good note again, similar to yesterday. For some reason I didn't feel nervous," said Watson, who famously outduelled Jack Nicklaus in the 1977 Duel in the Sun at Turnberry.

On a day of bright sunshine and testing crosswinds of up to 20-mph (32-kph), Watson again showed Saturday that there were few wrinkles on his game despite his advancing years.

The five-times winner, attempting to break the record of compatriot Julius Boros who won the 1968 U.S. PGA Championship at the age of 48, was given an ovation on every hole and repaid the galleries with an awe-inspiring performance.