Langer Takes Charge at Senior British Open


Bernhard Langer carded his third straight round in the 60s and now is in solo first at the Senior British Open. The Champions Tour's final major of the year is taking place at par-70 Royal Birkdale in Merseyside, England.

The 55-year-old German fired a 4-under 66 to break his 36-hole tie with American Mark Wiebe and reach 9-under 201, three shots ahead of South Africa's David Frost (68) and four ahead of Wiebe, who shot a 70 Saturday.

Langer, the 2010 Senior British Open champion and an 18-time winner on the over-50 circuit, carded five birdies and a bogey to take command of the tournament.

The World Golf Hall of Fame member was obviously pleased with his performance in the third round. "That was as good as I can play," said the German, whose previous win in the championship came at Carnoustie. "My ball-striking was almost perfect and I played really well, apart from the mistake at the 14th."

First-round leader Gene Sauers shot his second straight 70 and shares fourth at 3-under 207 with Australia's Peter Fowler (70) and Scotland's Sandy Lyle (69).

Alone in seventh at 208 is another Aussie, Peter Senior (69), while another stroke back is Corey Pavin, who also shot 69. Steve Pate (68) and England's Gary Wolstenholme (68) are tied for ninth at 210. Aussie Steve Elkington (71) and American Jeff Hart (73) are in 11th at 211.

Champions Tour rookie Colin Montgomerie carded a 69 and is tied for 13th at 212 with Japan's Kohki Idoki (73), Tom Pernice Jr. (70) and Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin, who carded Saturday's low round, a 5-under 65.

Yet another stroke back are Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty (76), Canadian Rod Spittle (70), and Americans Rocco Mediate (75), Tom Kite (71) and Steve Jones (70).

After opening with a 74 and 72, defending champion Fred Couples finally got untracked with a 2-under 68. The 53-year-old from Seattle is now tied for 22nd at 214 with eight others.

But the story through 54 holes has been Langer, who knows there's still another round to go before he secures his third major on the Champions Tour. "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," Langer told EuropeanTour.com.

"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."

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/seniortour/season=2013/tournamentid=2013858/leaderboard/index.html.