SOUTHPORT, England — Bernhard Langer seized a three-shot lead after the third round of the Senior British Open on Saturday, mastering Royal Birkdale with superb links play for a 4-under 66.
Langer shared the overnight lead with American Mark Wiebe but birdied three of his first seven holes to jump in front on his own. David Frost of South Africa shot his third straight 68 to sit alone in second place, while Wiebe only managed a 70 to drop into third, four shots back.
First-round leader Gene Sauers of Savannah shot a 70 and is tied for fourth — six strokes back. He birdied Nos. 11, 14, 15 and 17 and bogeyed 1, 4, 9 and 18.
Langer’s only bogey came on the 14th, but he finished with two birdies on 15 and 17 to stay in control.
“That was as good as I can play,” said the German veteran, who is bidding for his second Senior British Open title having won at Carnoustie in 2010. “My ball-striking was almost perfect and I played really well, apart from the mistake at the 14th.”
His lone bogey came when he hit his tee shot to the back of the green, sent his approach putt long and left and missed the return.
He got it back immediately with a birdie at the long 15th, added another at the long 17th and just missed his birdie chance from 12 feet at the last.
Frost made three birdies in a row from the seventh but then made three bogies came on the 10th, 14th and the 18th, with two other birdies in between.
Three players are in joint fourth place, six shots back — home favorite Sandy Lyle (69), Australian Peter Fowler (70) and Sauers.
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland also had a 69 but is tied for 13th at 2 over. Miguel Angel Martin of Spain had the day’s best round of 65 but is also on 2 over.
Defending champion Fred Couples had a 68, his best round of the week, but his out of contention at 4 over.
Ireland’s Mark McNulty shared fourth place overnight but quickly fell back when he dropped a stroke at each of the first four holes and another two at No. 7 and 8. He finished with a 76.
Canadian Open
OAKVILLE, Ontario — Hunter Mahan gave up the lead in the Canadian Open when his wife went into labor, and Brandt Snedeker grabbed the top spot a few hours later Saturday.
Mahan was 13 under after two rounds when he got a call saying wife Kandi had gone into labor with their first child. The American rushed to the airport for a flight to Texas.
Snedeker had a 9-under 63 at Glen Abbey to take the lead after the rain-delayed third round. There were scattered showers and an 80-minute delay because of lightning.
Sweden’s David Lingmerth was a stroke back after a 65, and Matt Kuchar and Jason Bohn were 12 under. Kuchar had a 64, and Bohn shot 66.
Dustin Johnson also shot 63, good for a tie for fifth at 11 under with John Merrick (72), Greg Owen (67), Charley Hoffman (67) and Kyle Stanley (66).
Merrick, two strokes behind Mahan on Friday after a matching the course record with a second-round 62, played alone in the third round after Mahan withdrew. Merrick declined to play alongside a non-scoring marker.
David Hearn was the top Canadian, shooting a 68 to reach 5 under. Mike Weir was 3 under after a 73.