Jack Nicklaus slipped hinself back into contention of the stg£500,000 Senior British Open today courtesy of the leading contenders inability to make any real progress in the testing conditions at the Royal County Down links.
The windy afternoon conditions insured that no one in the final group broke par. Rather they lost ground and gave the challengers a life line going into the final round.
Nicklaus is three shots off the pace set by Australian Ian Stanley on four-under. The 52-year-old leader only had one cause for concern in his round of 70 when he pushed a tee-shot to the right on the eighth and eventually ran up a triple bogey seven.
"After that I just had to be patient, knowing I had the difficult ninth coming up," said Stanley whose patience paid off when he picked up birdies at the 12th and 16th.
"Fortunately my putting had been working well this week," which is essential for success around these type of links, remarked the Australian.
Stanley holds a one shot lead over David Oakley and Bob Charles who share second. Both men playing in the final group carded one-over 72s while the overnight leader John Bland fell off the pace with a disappointing 76. It leaves the three-times runner-up of this event on level par.
For Nicklaus the 17th yet again proved costly, "I choked down on a 3-wood but it went over 250 (yards) into the breeze," said Nicklaus whose ball trickled into the water hazard. "I just flushed it, but maybe it was poor judgement on my part," he remarked after having to take a drop and two putting from 10 feet for bogey.
It followed a mental error he made at the same hole on Thursday by not noticing bunkers on the right side of the fairway.
The great man felt he gave three shots away on the home stretch as he, "played a pretty good round for the most part. I got myself into contention midway through the round," after going out in one-under 34 then added a birdie at the 12th.
"Then I gave it away on the way home," said a touch despondent Nicklaus who was referring to the missed birdie chance at the 16th and his failure to two putt for birdie from just off the right side of the green at 18.
Just three off the pace, Nicklaus must still be considered one of the main threats going into the final round.
Another legend, Gary Player, was pleased with his performance today despite shooting 73 which dropped him back to two-over for the Championship:
"I played very well today, and have been practising like an animal which means my game has got a lot better," said Player who also found time to criticise the course again:
"I think the course needs a little water. They are going to extremes now. I love fire but it’s getting a bit too much and like last year."
Local man Eddie Polland took up the mantle as leading Irishman when he carded one of the few sub par rounds of the day. The 54-year-old who was born in Newcastle shot 70 for a six-over total after three rounds.
Denis O’Sullivan is next in line at nine-over following today’s round of 74. One of the favourites at the start of the week failed to show any spark that has already earned him two victories this year. And now 13 shots off the pace, the Corkman is no longer a threat.
Former Irish international Arthur Pierse looks favourite to collect the silver medal as the leading amateur for the week. At 12-over following today’s 74, Pierse leads his only other challenger Norman Swenson Jnr by two shots. The American carded a 76 this morning.
There is no doubt the course at Newcastle is drying out considerably as the week goes on. However tricky or bouncy it becomes it makes for a great finale as plenty of high profile names gather for the final challenge over a true links.