Bernhard Langer of Germany shot 2-under-par 68 and grabbed a share of the lead with Jeff Maggert after three rounds of the 36th U.S. Senior Open at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento.
Langer, who has won five majors on the Champions Tour including the Constellation Senior Energy Championship two weeks ago, collected four birdies, including three in a row through the 14th hole.
“The only way to separate yourself is by playing great golf,” said Langer, the two-time Masters champion. “You’ve got to try to avoid mistakes and make some putts and hit some incredible shots. It’s the only way to really separate yourself.”
Maggert, who claimed the first major title of his career last month in the Regions Tradition, held sole possession of the lead until making a bogey on the 18th hole while finishing off a 70.
Tom Watson, 65, who held at least a share of the lead after each of the first two rounds while trying to become the oldest player to win a senior major, holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole to shoot 71 and was one stroke back in a tie for third with defending champion Colin Montgomerie (70) of Scotland, Kenny Perry (64), Fred Funk (68), Scott Dunlap (68), Grant Waite (69) of New Zealand, Woody Austin (69) and Jimmy Carter (70).
Duffy Waldorf of Northridge and UCLA carded a 68 and was two shots behind in a tie for 11th with Kevin Sutherland (70) of Sacramento and Fresno State, Miguel Angel Jimenez (67) of Spain, Barry Lane (69) of England, Bart Bryant (71) and Peter Fowler (72) of Australia.
