Watson part of three-way tie for lead during at British Open

TURNBERRY, Scotland — Tom Watson, trying to become the oldest major champion in golf history, was in a three-way tie for the British Open lead with six holes remaining.

The 59-year-old Watson struggled to a 37 on the front side, giving away the one-shot lead he had after 54 holes. England's Lee Westwood led by two at the turn over Watson and his playing partner, Mathew Goggin of Australia.

But Westwood bogeyed the 10th and Watson made his longest putt of the day at No. 11, rolling in a 25-footer for birdie. That created a deadlock at 3 under that also included Goggin, a 35-year-old journeyman on the PGA Tour who hasn't won in 10 years — and that was when he played on the minor-league Nationwide Tour.

If Watson held on, he would be the golf's oldest major winner by more than a decade. Julius Boros was 48 when he captured the PGA Championship in 1968.

Watson could also ensure that he gets to keep playing the Open for another decade. Past champions are generally allowed to play only until they're 60 — a rule that Watson adamantly opposes.

But there's an overriding provision that grants playing rights to anyone who's won over the previous decade, so Watson could hang around until he's 69 if he gets his name on the claret jug for a sixth time.

Also, Watson was trying to tie the Harry Vardon's record for most Open titles.

There were plenty of guys in position to stop Watson's inspiring run. At the start of play, a dozen players were within five strokes of the lead.

But Watson was clearly the star of the show.

Even cyclist Lance Armstrong, who came out off retirement to pursue his eighth Tour de France title, was keeping an eye on Turnberry.

"How about Tom Watson?" Armstrong wrote on Twitter. "Incredible."