A mistake 'out of nowhere' cost Thomas Levet a share of the British Open third round lead on Saturday.

The Frenchman, the first round joint-leader and only a stroke off the pace overnight, moved three ahead of the field by the turn with three front-nine birdies.

But after splitting the fairway at the 11th, the infamous Railway Hole, last week's Scottish Open winner sent his approach scuttling down a slope off the green.

He chipped back 15 feet past the flag but then three-putted for a double bogey.

However, after signing for a 71, Levet, who also dropped a shot on the par-five 16th, had shrugged off the mistake insisting it had not thrown his challenge for the claret jug off the rails.

"I'm not worried because it was not a big mistake," said Levet, who is two shots behind leader Todd Hamilton on six under par. "It came from nowhere and from no distance.

"I knew even if I made double-bogey I would still be in contact with the lead. It's not like I took a 14 on one hole.

"It was not a big mistake and it was after all, my first in three days, that's not a bad record.

"I shot even-par after all and I feel I'm playing well enough to get back into it.

"The only thing that was frustrating was that the more difficult back nine was a bit easier because the pin positions were not so tough and I didn't take advantage."

The Parisien is attempting to better his second place in the 2002 Open when he lost out in sudden-death to Ernie Els, who lies one stroke ahead of him.

Email this page to a friend | 2005 Open Coverage | Return to top of page