The weather at the 2011 British Open has taken a turn for the grim and gloomy for Saturday's third round: rain and high winds have players bundled up and scrambling for pars. Considering that, Tom Watson's third round was nothing short of phenomenal.
The 61-year-old five-time British Open champion turned in another legendary performance at Royal St. George's on Saturday, firing a 2-over 72 (two birdies, four bogeys) that tied Trevor Immelman's 72 for the best score among players who have completed third rounds. The score moved him to 4-over for the Open Championship, but barring collapses by dozens of players, Watson won't win a sixth British Open this week.
That doesn't mean his round, which vaulted him 10 spots up the 2011 British Open leaderboard, wasn't impressive, though. Veteran golf scribe Steve Elling of CBS Sports noted that Watson's round may well be the day's best:
To me, score compared to field average is best indicator of play. Tom Watson is 6 shots under field's scoring average "par" for Saturday.
That this round should come a day after Watson put in an improbable hole-in-one is just further evidence that the wizened Kansan still has some of his wizardry.
For more 2011 British Open news and results, stay with this StoryStream, visit SB Nation's golf hub, and check out our golf blog, Waggle Room.