Watson makes the turn and is tied for the lead with Lee Westwood and Mathew Goggin

Sunday, July 19, 2009 11:45 am (Eastern)

By Sal JOHNSON
Publisher, GOLFOBSERVER
E-mail me at: Golfersal@aol.com

It's a sprint to the finish line as Tom Watson holds on and is tied with 7 holes left.

TURNBERRY, Scotland -- A lot has happened in just the last half hour.

First I would have to think that Ross Fisher, who led by two just 40 minutes ago is out of the tournament and would kindly like his beeper to ring and let him leave to join his wife. After his quadruple-bogey 8 at the 5th hole he made bogey at 7 and 8 and is 2 over par and six back. Fisher's problem is the driver, he has missed four of the first six fairways and as Tiger Woods have found out, that is disaster.

Photo: © Warren Little/Getty Images Mathew Goggin has hung in all day.

Now we told you that Chris Wood was just a shot back at 2 under par, he bogey the 13th and 14th holes but fought back with a birdie at 15 and is still in it at 1 under. Unfortunately I think that he is running out of holes, with the weather like it is I think that you have to be 3 under to have a shot. So it will be interesting to see if he can get a couple back.

We haven't mention much on Mathew Goggin, he bogey the 2nd and the 4th but has made a birdie at 7 and is 2 over. He seems to just be sitting there waiting for something to happen or should we say wait for people to fold. Goggin in a way is very lucky, he hasn't been very straight with his driver only hitting 1 of his first 5 fairways but he has taken only 11 putts with 3 one putts so he is still in the running.

Just like Goggin, Stewart Cink seems to be hanging in there and waiting for those in front to fold a bit. Cink is even par for the day, with two bogeys and two birdies, the last coming on the 11th hole. Cink has been in this position before but he has to make a few more birdies for any chance.

Photo: © Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Lee Westwood has been solid as a rock, including his putting which has been a problem in the past

As for Tom Watson, his game has settled down. He is following his game plan of hitting fairways and greens, so far he has only missed one of six fairways and 4 of 8 greens. He hit the par 5 seventh in two and two putted for birdie but after missing the 8th green he chipped it to six feet and slammed it into the back of the cup. If he can make these putts and keep his sprints up, no telling how he can Watson. Unfortunately he didn't follow his game plan at 9, pulled his drive and that led to another bogey

Now for the leader. Myself I am on pins and needles because I have been a big supporter of him all week. I have felt that he is ready to win, the course is perfect for him and that this could be his time. I was so confident, I bet 50 pounds (about $75) on Westwood and got 33 to 1 to win. Now for a poor internet owner like me that is about a $2,500 payday so despite rooting for Watson by wallet is rooting for Lee.

After his eagle at 7, he par eight and nine but a bad tee shot at 10 way right has cost him a bogey at 10. So he is now coming home with 8 holes left to play at 3 under. You have to think that there is not many more bogeys that can be made by the leaders considering that Luke Donald shot 67 and is in the clubhouse at even par. Right now six players are under par and you have to think that they are the ones that the winner will come from.

Photo: © Warren Little/Getty Images Tom Watson has done a great job in hanging in.

Oh, Tom Watson hit it 8 feet past the hole at ten, but missed the putt but the big news is that Goggin hit his shot 7 feet away and made birdie, thus he is tied for the lead with Westwood at 3 under, oh Westwood made par at 11.

While I was posting this, Chris Wood made a birdie at 14 and he is at 2 under par along with Stewart Cink who birdied 13, but the big news is that Tom Watson dropped in a 20 footer for birdie at 11 and is tied with Goggin and Westwood at 3 under par

Here is the scoreboard at 4:40, British time:

Lee Westwood is 3 under after 12
Tom Watson is 3 under after 11
Mathew Goggin is 3 under after 11
Chris Wood is 2 under after 17
Stewart Cink is 2 under after 13
Retief Goosen is even par after 12
Luke Donald is even par and finished
Richard Johnson is even par after 13

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