Veteran Briton Barry Lane may have cost himself a chance of a maiden major honour after dropping three strokes on his last two holes in the British Open third round on Saturday.

The 44-year-old shared the lead with American Todd Hamilton coming to the short 17th but the former Ryder Cup player, whose British Masters title in May was his first victory in 10 years, miscued his drive on the short hole.

Having found deep rough Lane flew the green, thinned his recovery and took two putts to get down for double-bogey.

Then on the last he pulled his approach into the rough to run up bogey for a 71 that left him five under par, three strokes off leader Hamilton.

"Yesterday I finished two-three, today I finished five-five," said Lane.

"But I played solidly otherwise and would have taken level par at the start of the day."

Asked if he had expected to be in contention so late in his career, Lane added: "I'd give up if I didn't. It's never too late. You always strive to do better."

In 1995, Lane was the first man win the one million dollars first prize in the tournament now called the Match Play World Golf Championship. His British Masters victory was his fifth on the European Tour.

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