Hot putter helps American Molder turn it around

By Patrick Johnston

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Unheralded American Bryce Molder rolled in a series of long putts to recover from a poor start to take the early clubhouse lead on level-par in the British Open third round on Saturday.

"You need a little bit of luck but I made the putts when I needed to," the 30-year-old told reporters after compiling a three-under 67 for a total of 210. "I made three 25-footers.

"It didn't start off looking like a 67. I struggled a little bit early and I told my caddie on number seven I'm not doing anything right."

Light breezes and bright sunshine greeted the early starters at the Ailsa Course but Molder opened with bogey fives at the third and fifth.

However the American, who has a rare defect resulting in his left hand being much smaller than his right, hit back in style with five birdies in his last 11 holes.

"All of a sudden on eight I hit a very good drive, a very good three-iron and holed a 30-footer for a birdie four," said Molder. "Then I happened to make another long putt on the next hole.

"You get your confidence and it all happened from there."

Molder, still to record a win on the PGA Tour, was left to ponder a nervous Sunday after leaving himself in uncharted territory near the top of the leaderboard.