TIMONIUM, Md. — Tom Watson is feeling good and likes his golf game these days.
Watson, 60, celebrated his one-year anniversary from successful left hip surgery by shooting a 6-under-par 64 and building a four-stroke lead Saturday at the Senior Players Championship.
Watson, bidding to become the oldest major winner on the Champions Tour, attacked the Baltimore Country Club course and put together a bogey-free round — he’s made only one during the tournament — with six birdies to finish at 12-under 198 and four shots clear of Loren Roberts (65), John Cook (65) and Mark Wiebe (66).
Watson nearly won the British Open in July, but a balky putter on the 72nd hole cost him the Claret Jug. Now, Watson said he’s more confident on the greens and, three months removed from his dramatic performance at Turnberry, happy about his play.
He’s also healthier. Last season, Watson walked with a limp and had trouble sleeping because of pain in his hip. After the surgery, Watson said he immediately saw results.
“I heard a lot of good things about hip replacement, people getting great results and having more flexibility, more range of motion,” he said. “I can get up on a horse, over a fence, all kinds of things now. It is something, to think you’ve got this metal, ceramic piece of merchandise in there. It works so well, I hope it lasts a long time.”
Piercy shares lead
VERONA, N.Y. — Scott Piercy, who hopes to become the first rookie to win on the PGA Tour this year, shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the lead with Matt Kuchar after the third round of the Turning Stone Resort Championship.
Kuchar had a 67 to match Piercy at 14-under 202. Golden native Leif Olson (68) and Rod Pampling (65) were a stroke back while Nicholas Thompson (69) was two behind.
Ochoa overtakes teenager
PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Defending champion Lorena Ochoa shot a 6-under 66 to take a three-stroke lead in the Navistar LPGA Classic, leaving 14-year-old Alexis Thompson eight strokes behind.
Ochoa, second last week behind Sophie Gustafson in California, had a 16-under 200 total. She birdied six of her final 12 holes in the bogey-free round.
The top-ranked Mexican star is winless in her last 11 starts. She has two victories in 17 events this season.
The Associated Press
