Royal Birkdale on the Saturday of the 27th Senior Open Championship was the scene of an exhibition of sheer brilliance. Bernhard Langer, the winner of the 2010 Senior Open at Carnoustie, produced a performance that rivalled the quality he illustrated back when he won his two Masters titles. The 55-year-old German legend would barely miss a shot in his third round as he comfortably completed a 66 that gave him a 9-under total of 201 for the Championship, and a three-shot lead heading into Sunday at the wonderful Lancashire coast links of Birkdale.
Starting the day tied for the lead with American Mark Wiebe, Langer asserted his authority early on in the proceedings by completing his front-nine in just 31 strokes. After dropping a shot on the 14th, the only blemish on his day, the World Golf Hall of Fame member would respond with birdies at the 15th and 17th and ensure that he would take full control of the Championship. It has been a performance of the utmost quality.
He said: “I've hit so many good shots the last few days where just they feel good and come off right where I want them to go and they go the proper distance. It's just fun playing golf that way because it doesn't happen very often.”
Langer won the Championship three years ago at Carnoustie, and he hasn’t finished outside of the top 12 in his previous five appearances. However, Langer did hold the 54-hole lead at last year’s tournament at Turnberry, before succumbing to a final round of 75 that allowed Fred Couples to come through and win. Langer is well aware that there is still a round to play, however it is an event that would relish the opportunity to win again on the Southport links.
“It’s always special to win any tournament, but to win a Major and to win it on a golf course like this, would mean a lot,” he said.
“There's a lot of golf left. We all know that. There’s somebody inside me that expects me to win, but I know there's 18 holes left, and there's a lot of shots to be pulled off and a lot of putts to be made. So golf is not over till it's over, and we've got 18 holes to play.”
David Frost, who won the Regions Tradition in June, is Langer’s closest challenger. The South African has posted three consecutive rounds of 68 for a 54-hole total of 6-under 204. However, the 53-year-old from Cape Town is well aware of the magnitude of the task ahead of him tomorrow in the final group:
He said: “I have to do something really special,” he said. “I have to find something that I'm confident with, that I can go out tomorrow and just find a little key thought. It would be special to win here at Birkdale. I've come here many years, so hopefully we can talk about that tomorrow night.”
Mark Wiebe, playing with Langer on Saturday, held on to remain at 5-under, and within four shots of the lead. Australia’s Peter Fowler and round one leader Gene Sauers are at 3-under, alongside a figure who, like Langer, has won a Masters Tournament.
Sandy Lyle, the 1985 Open champion, will receive plentiful support from the British galleries. The 55-year-old, who made the cut at Muirfield last week, leads the home challenge at 3-under. The Scot posted a third round of 69 to keep himself with an outside chance of adding the Senior Open to the Claret Jug he won 28 years ago at Royal St Georges.
“I feel like I can give Langer a bit of a fright now. If he just lets one or two slip on a few holes, you never know in this game. It's a very open tournament right now.”
The popular Scotsman, once described by the late Seve Ballesteros as being the ‘the greatest God-given talent in history’, has struggled to consistently perform for over 20 years. However, through sheer determination and love of the game, the affable Lyle has stuck with it and fought hard to find himself in contention for a major championship once again.
“It's the sort of thing that you're hoping you're going to get one of those weeks where you're right up there,” he said. “I've had a miserable time for quite a few years on the US Champions Tour and playing over in Europe. I’ve just not playing the game that I know I can play. But you put that doubt in your mind and you think, yes, maybe I'm getting older and things are not quite the same.
“But the last few months have been a little bit of daylight in the tunnel and I’m hitting the ball a lot better and keeping the ball in play. On the range, it's been pretty good stuff. I think that we are getting closer, getting it closer.
“It's just bringing it on the golf course and you have mental hazards to get over and certain shots that maybe send the wrong message to the muscles or the brain, and you just get on with it. Today was one of those days where you keep fearing certain shots migh happen but doesn't happen and so you get some good momentum, and confidence.”
Lyle will have the support, and Langer the respect. Either way, one of Europe’s greatest ever players may lift the trophy tomorrow at Royal Birkdale and become Senior Open Champion.