Lietzke moves four shots clear

Bruce Lietzke fired a seven-under-par 64 to open a four-shot lead over Vicente Fernandez and Tom Watson with 18 holes remaining at the U.S. Senior Open on Saturday.

One day after Argentina's Fernandez posted the best second round in tournament history, 51-year-old Lietzke matched it and came within a stroke of the best third round.

He has a 54-hole total of nine-under 204 after making up seven strokes on Fernandez (71) and six on Watson (70).

Asked if it was the best competitive round of his career, Lietzke replied, "Yes, it probably is. Just factoring in the degree of difficulty on this golf course, yes.

"I have had some 62s on the PGA Tour and 62s on the Champions Tour and I have had tons of great rounds, but, yes, just figuring the kind of golf course this is and how difficult I think the golf course plays, especially for me."

Three weeks ahead of his 52nd birthday, Lietzke's 64 was one of only three sub-70 scores in the third round.

At one-under 213, Allen Doyle has the only other par or better score after three trips around Inverness.

"I didn't think that was going to be possible today," said Lietzke, who hit just eight fairways but made nine birdies against two bogeys.

"I don't have strategies when it comes to golf courses. I always believed golf is more of a reactionary sport; you just go out there and react to wherever your first tee shot goes."

First round leader Watson was left to rue a string of missed chances.

"I had better opportunities today than I did yesterday. I had the ball a lot closer to the hole today, but nothing seemed to go in," Watson said.

"I was back-pedalling there, watching Bruce do what he did. Desperation hasn't set in yet, but we will see what happens tomorrow."

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