A serene Bernhard Langer remained on course for a second Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex title in four years as two birdies on the front nine kept the German three shots clear of the field.
Langer, 11 under par through the turn, began the day three clear of South Africa’s David Frost but it was Mark Wiebe who was leading the chasing pack after a bogey-free front nine 31 propelled the American into second place as the final afternoon progressed.
Frost was battling hard to stay firmly in the fight, too, two shots further back after mixing two birdies with two bogeys over the opening nine holes to sit alongside Australian Peter Senior, who was putting the round of the day together in reaching four under par through 12 holes.
With scattered showers softening the renowned Birkdale links on Sunday afternoon and little if any breeze to speak of – despite the gusts predicted – there were plenty of birdies available for the later starters yet 2010 Open Champion Langer was proving an immovable force.
The 55 year old Anhausen native scrambled well to save par at both the fourth and sixth, while a fantastic recovery from the right rough at the fifth led to an opening birdie of the day.
Langer added a second gain at the ninth after hitting his approach to five feet and looked like calmness personified in his bid to become to seventh multiple winner of The Senior Open in its 27-year history in Southport.
