TOM Watson was too far back last night to win a sixth claret jug but it's a testament to the player he is that, at 61 years of age, he's even in the conversation.
With the exception of Sam Snead, no golfer has contended at majors into their twilight years like Watson, who surely must be considered one of the greatest links players.
He went out in the foulest of Saturday's weather and turned in a two-over-par round of 72 that left even the best players in the world in awe.
"If we had weather like we had this morning the entire tournament, I don't know who's going to beat him," Phil Mickelson said.
Unfortunately for Watson, the skies cleared and the winds softened for the leaders and he was left in a tie for 25th after three days, nine shots behind the surprise leader, Darren Clarke.
He could've been better had he not lost his nerve on a few short putts but, as he later admitted, he made his share of long ones, too.
Irrespective, Watson's left his mark on this, his 34th Open Championship, when he became the oldest man to make the cut in the long history of this tournament.
Robert Allenby and Davis Love III were in the group behind on Friday morning when Watson sent a four-iron high into the par-three sixth at Royal St George's, in the garden of England.
They didn't see the ball as it flew at the flag, but they didn't need eyes to know what had happened.
Their ears told them that the old man by the sea had reeled himself in a hole-in-one.
Even for a couple of grizzled veterans, it was a magical moment.
"He's just an amazing golfer," Allenby, shaking his head, told Love.
What's remarkable about Watson is that he's still got that Huckleberry Finn grin, still got that glint in his eye, still got that beautiful, age-defying swing and, most of all, hasn't lost his hunger for this, his most treasured tournament.
He's won it five times, trailing the record-holder, Harry Vardon, by one.
Yet it's clear from speaking to him that Watson doesn't cross the Atlantic every July to soak up applause and trade off fading memories.
The man can still play and he hasn't given up on the idea that he might just shock the world one last time.
"I guess I refuse to be a ceremonial player," he said, "(When) that time comes, then I'll hang them up."
Love said Watson "gets inspired when he comes over here".
The links is an acquired taste many never acquire. Most players dread the prospect of pulling on the waterproofs.
"Not Tom -- if it gets windy and rainy, he gets excited," Love said.
But for how much longer will he be excited?
"I don't know, until this old body says 'no mas'," Watson said.
"If I'm out there not able to compete and shooting 80 or 78 or 76 all the time, I'm not going to stay around very much if I do that."
I asked him how old he felt.
"I feel in pretty good shape. I'm not too bad," he said.
"But when you see these kids and the speed with which they hit the golf ball with their driver _ it's just a different sound. Their sound is a whoosh and mine is a thud. There's a difference."
"But," he said with a wink, "The thud works every time."
Meanwhile, the Australian assault on Royal St George's fizzled during the third round.
Adam Scott had been perched for a run at his first major but left disappointed after a third-round 73. He fell to two over par for the tournament, seven behind Clarke.
"I made it look worse than it was," he said of the conditions.
"I three-putted twice in the first four holes so I made the worst of a bad situation."
Scott refused to blame his broomstick putter.
"My speed was off, that was the thing; they were just that much slower after some rain," he said.
Like Watson, Jason Day got the worst of the elements but didn't fare as well.
The Queenslander, who finished as runner-up at both the Masters and US Open, shot 76 in the third round to fall to seven over par for the tournament.
"I actually hit it better today but it was just hard because I was taking into consideration a 40-mile-an-hour wind," he said.
"A four- or five-club wind.
"I was talking to (playing partner) Bubba (Watson) about it and we agreed that it was the toughest day we had ever played. You've never seen so many people hold their umbrellas sideways."
Of the other Australians who made the cut, Allenby shot 75, Richard Green 73 and Matthew Millar, who went out first with a marker, turned in an 80.
"The conditions were brutal," Millar said.
"I usually don't mind it if it's a bit tougher but it really got hold of me today.
"You just keep making bogeys and it's really hard to make birdies and as the rain keeps tumbling, it gets worse."
Green said the fourth hole _ which Day said he played as if it was a three-shot par-five _ was impossible, with a 40mph wind.
"I think my driver went just 200 yards and then a three-wood just as far again, then I pitched up on to the green and made par," he said.
"I walked off there, I couldn't believe it."
With the exception of Sam Snead, no golfer has contended at majors into their twilight years like Watson, who surely must be considered one of the greatest links players.
He went out in the foulest of Saturday's weather and turned in a two-over-par round of 72 that left even the best players in the world in awe.
"If we had weather like we had this morning the entire tournament, I don't know who's going to beat him," Phil Mickelson said.
Unfortunately for Watson, the skies cleared and the winds softened for the leaders and he was left in a tie for 25th after three days, nine shots behind the surprise leader, Darren Clarke.
He could've been better had he not lost his nerve on a few short putts but, as he later admitted, he made his share of long ones, too.
Irrespective, Watson's left his mark on this, his 34th Open Championship, when he became the oldest man to make the cut in the long history of this tournament.
Robert Allenby and Davis Love III were in the group behind on Friday morning when Watson sent a four-iron high into the par-three sixth at Royal St George's, in the garden of England.
They didn't see the ball as it flew at the flag, but they didn't need eyes to know what had happened.
Their ears told them that the old man by the sea had reeled himself in a hole-in-one.
Even for a couple of grizzled veterans, it was a magical moment.
"He's just an amazing golfer," Allenby, shaking his head, told Love.
What's remarkable about Watson is that he's still got that Huckleberry Finn grin, still got that glint in his eye, still got that beautiful, age-defying swing and, most of all, hasn't lost his hunger for this, his most treasured tournament.
He's won it five times, trailing the record-holder, Harry Vardon, by one.
Yet it's clear from speaking to him that Watson doesn't cross the Atlantic every July to soak up applause and trade off fading memories.
The man can still play and he hasn't given up on the idea that he might just shock the world one last time.
"I guess I refuse to be a ceremonial player," he said, "(When) that time comes, then I'll hang them up."
Love said Watson "gets inspired when he comes over here".
The links is an acquired taste many never acquire. Most players dread the prospect of pulling on the waterproofs.
"Not Tom -- if it gets windy and rainy, he gets excited," Love said.
But for how much longer will he be excited?
"I don't know, until this old body says 'no mas'," Watson said.
I asked him how old he felt.
"I feel in pretty good shape. I'm not too bad," he said.
"But when you see these kids and the speed with which they hit the golf ball with their driver _ it's just a different sound. Their sound is a whoosh and mine is a thud. There's a difference."
"But," he said with a wink, "The thud works every time."
Meanwhile, the Australian assault on Royal St George's fizzled during the third round.
Adam Scott had been perched for a run at his first major but left disappointed after a third-round 73. He fell to two over par for the tournament, seven behind Clarke.
"I made it look worse than it was," he said of the conditions.
"I three-putted twice in the first four holes so I made the worst of a bad situation."
Scott refused to blame his broomstick putter.
"My speed was off, that was the thing; they were just that much slower after some rain," he said.
Like Watson, Jason Day got the worst of the elements but didn't fare as well.
The Queenslander, who finished as runner-up at both the Masters and US Open, shot 76 in the third round to fall to seven over par for the tournament.
"I actually hit it better today but it was just hard because I was taking into consideration a 40-mile-an-hour wind," he said.
"A four- or five-club wind.
"I was talking to (playing partner) Bubba (Watson) about it and we agreed that it was the toughest day we had ever played. You've never seen so many people hold their umbrellas sideways."
Of the other Australians who made the cut, Allenby shot 75, Richard Green 73 and Matthew Millar, who went out first with a marker, turned in an 80.
"The conditions were brutal," Millar said.
"I usually don't mind it if it's a bit tougher but it really got hold of me today.
"You just keep making bogeys and it's really hard to make birdies and as the rain keeps tumbling, it gets worse."
Green said the fourth hole _ which Day said he played as if it was a three-shot par-five _ was impossible, with a 40mph wind.
"I think my driver went just 200 yards and then a three-wood just as far again, then I pitched up on to the green and made par," he said.
"I walked off there, I couldn't believe it."
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