U.S. Senior Open will elude Watson once more

SAMMAMISH, Wash. - Tom Watson's chances of snaring an elusive U.S. Senior Open appear to have slipped away during the third round at Sahalee CC.

While fellow competitor Fred Couples lit up the front nine with a four-under 31, Watson couldn't get anything going, with bogeys at Nos. 5 and 6 setting the tone for his round. The 60-year-old's frustration has continued on the back nine. He is five over for the round and the championship, and nine strokes off the lead, with three holes left in his third round.

It may be that the U.S. Senior Open will be for Watson's second act what the PGA Championship was to his prime. Watson's best chance of winning the U.S. Senior Open came in 2002, when he lost a playoff to red-hot Don Pooley. Watson also was second in 2003 and 2006.

-- Bill Fields