By Jeff Hall

SACRAMENTO –

It was moving day at the third round of the U.S. Senior Open at Del Paso Country Club.

One of the biggest moves came from Kenny Perry

Perry began the day 2 over par and was seven shots behind the leaders when he started his round.

Perry was six under par after the first nine holes. Perry played even par on the back side to finish his round with a 64.

‘I made more birdies in the first three holes than I did in the past 3 days.”, Said Perry after his round.

Perry has had some experience winning Championships trailing from far behind.

“I’m thinking if you can keep it in the fairway, that’s such a huge advantage here. I needed to somehow get my putter going. I was in the rocking chair seat, what I call today, a seat that there’s no pressure on you. You just need to relax, I’m 2 over, I’m seven behind, but I won this championship at ten behind. So I knew if somehow I could get 3, 4, 5 just get close, you know, maybe that magical round shows up when you do it. Opened up birdie six of the first seven. I’m thinking, you know what? This could be the day.”

Perry joined a large group of players at 4 under par just one shot behind the co-leaders Jeff Maggert and Bernhard Langer.

Tom Watson is part of that large group at 4 under. Watson struggled again on the front nine, which is the portion of the course that the players have been considering the easier nine. He was two over par on the front side. And dropped to 3-under.

Watson did birdie the par four eleventh hole to get back to 4 under par and he joined a large group of golfers at four under and one shot behind

“I had a couple hiccups, late par in the front nine. I missed a short putt at 7 and three-putted 8. But made a good putt at 11 for birdie and just didn’t hit too many good shots, but I kind of hung around there, drove the ball pretty well, except for the last hole.” , Watson said following his round.

Watson was the leader at the start of the round analyzed his third round play.

“Off the tee was good. The iron play was pretty sketchy. I had a good — hit some good shorter irons. But longer irons, I wasn’t very good in the long irons. Almost fanned the one at No. 5, had a 6 iron and almost fanned it there. Short game was really good. Out of the rough around the greens, I’ve been very successful so far. The putter’s been working well. So driving the ball, short game’s good around the greens, putting well — it’s kept me in it. Let’s put it that way, it’s just kept me in it.”

“That’s the key for me. If I keep driving the ball well and put the ball in the fairway every hole, I’ll have a shot at it.”, Watson Added.

Co-leader Bernhard Langer drove the ball well today and found himself with a share of the Lead after the third round.

“Yeah, just kept the ball in play and hit a lot of decent shots. Just couldn’t make any putts early on.” Langer said after his round.

Langer and Jeff Maggert share the lead at five under par.

Putting will be the key to winning this tournament.   The greens are in outstanding shape and very true. If a player has his stroke on line, he should have success. Just ask Woody Austin one of the many one shot behind. Austin has missed multiple putts literally by a hair in the first three rounds. His frustration reached a peak when he let out a yell when his putt failed to fall on the par four ninth hole, and just rested on the edge of the hole.

“I don’t know how the ball is still sitting there. All it has to do is go two dimples, and it roles all the way back to the hole. Just very disappointing to hit good shots and not get rewarded for it. And then to hit good shots like on 16 and still miss a putt, that’s an aggravating finish. Very aggravating finish.”

The fourth and final round should be an exciting one with 20 players just 4 shots off the lead with eight players just one shot back.

Sacramento Native Kevin Sutherland is still in it and he finished the round even par and is currently 3-under par, two shots back back of the lead, heading into the final round.

Sutherland said he felt lucky to still be in the tournament.

“I didn’t really play that well today. I feel like I had a lot of good I had some good putts that just didn’t go in, but I also struggled a little bit hitting the ball. I think at the end of the day, even par is probably a good score for me.” , said Sutherland

While disappointed with his round, Sutherland should not be disappointed with his performance overall as well as the performance the players have brought to his hometown golf course and have displayed what looks to be an exciting end to a classic championship event where so many players have an opportunity to win the tournament in the final round. In the first two rounds the question was if the hot weather would impact the tournament, tomorrow, it will be the hottest player that will leave a lasting impact.

“It’s like a horse race,” Watson said. “Getting close to the wire.”