Clarke ties lead, Harrington well placed at Senior Open

Darren Clarke is still in a tie for the lead heading into the final round at the Senior Open Championship in Gleneagles - while Padraig Harrington is well placed just three strokes back.

The 2011 Open Champion Clarke, who held a two-stroke lead after 36 holes, carded a one-under-par round of 69 to sit at -9 for the tournament overall.

However, he was caught at the head of the field by Paul Broadhurst, who carded a four-under-par 66 in rough conditions at the Scottish venue. Broadhurst, the 2016 Senior Open winner, collected six birdies against two bogeys to finish the third round at nine-under 201 for the tournament. It is the England native's lowest 54-hole score in a PGA Tour Champions major. Clarke registered his lowest 54-hole score in any PGA Tour Champions major despite failing to hold a two-shot lead after two rounds. The Dungannon golfer overcame successive bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13 by sinking an 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole. He is bidding to join Gary Player, Bob Charles and Tom Watson as the lone golfers to win both The Open and Senior Open. Clarke led after 36 holes last year and finished in third place behind winner Stephen Dodd. "It would be pretty cool to have both of them sitting beside each other," Clarke said. "I would love to win The Senior Open as well as The Open. "(On Sunday) I give myself an opportunity again. I did it last year and I gave myself an opportunity. Felt like I didn't quite play well enough on the Sunday." Broadhurst and Clarke hold a one-stroke lead over Jerry Kelly (67) and Australian Steven Alker (66). Kelly is bidding for his first career win at The Senior Open, while Alker is looking for his fourth victory in 2022. "Just look at the leaderboard, some top names right behind me,"