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Goosen stays three shots clear

Retief Goosen posted a five-under 66 to extend his lead to three strokes at the Scottish Open Saturday. After three rounds he stands at 16-under 197, the lowest 54-hole score in the history of Loch Lomond.

The South African continued his brilliance holding off surges from such players as Adam Scott and John Daly in a quest to win the last tournament before the British Open.

"After the U.S. Open, if I could come back and win again that would be great," Goosen said. "I'm hungry to win again and again and again. I don't think I would be in this position if I weren't keen to win."

His closest challenger at the end of the third round was Scott. The Australian turned in a 67 to finish at 13-under 200. Daly, who posted his 10th consecutive round of par or better, lies five strokes off the lead alongside Paul McGinley at 11-under 202.

Goosen started the third round with a two-stroke lead. With birdies on three and five he moved to 14-under through the front nine.

Daly came within two shots of the lead after pitching in for eagle from 120 feet at the par-four ninth. A birdie on the 18th moved him into a tie with McGinley, who dropped his only shot at the par-three 17th.

Scott tried to close the gap but despite two remarkable shots he would fail to do so. On the par-three 11 he sank a bunker shot for birdie. A 35-foot eagle putt on the 13th moved him to within one shot of the lead but Goosen would match him on the same hole with an eagle of his own.

"It seemed like every time I did something today, Retief just followed me in," Scott said. "He's playing really solid golf, and that's the way you've go to play when you're out in front. Make no mistakes and give no one else a chance."

Goosen's only mistake came on the 16th where he missed his only green in regulation Saturday. He would go on to bogey but on the 18th he placed a 7-iron about 10 feet from the hole to set up a birdie putt and finish at 16-under.

With one round left to play, Goosen looks to add to his accomplishments with another victory before heading off to the British Open where he will be introduced as U.S. Open champion.

"It would be nice to add this to a French Open, a South African Open, and a U.S. Open," he said.

Other notables include Niclas Fasth (66), Darren Clarke (68), Barry Lane (69), and Thomas Bjorn (69), all seven strokes off lead at nine-under par.

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