Watson turns back Turnberry clock

British Seniors Open: British Seniors Open favourite Tom Watson put all the talk and the memories of his 1977 Turnberry Open victory behind him yesterday to share the lead with compatriot Tom Kite, with the former Ryder Cup colleagues shooting four-under-par 66s to lead the field by a shot from a group of seven, including Des Smyth and holder Noboru Sugai.

The Americans were out early when conditions were relatively benign, and Watson in particular was happy with his round, with the exception of his tee-shots.

"I was not pretty off the tee, but my iron play was good and I putted pretty well," the 53-year-old said.

"I have to say I got a bit lucky out there. I hit a lot of bad drives but every time I went into the rough I seemed to have a play. I don't think I can count on being so lucky tomorrow."

Kite, the 1992 US Open Champion, opened his British Seniors debut with a double bogey at the first but recovered well.

"It was not the start I was looking for, but I've been playing pretty well, so I came here with a lot of confidence and I recovered pretty well," he said.

England's Carl Mason, paired with Watson and Jack Nicklaus (who shot a creditable level par 70) and American Mark McCumber came in on the heels of the leaders before the afternoon wind began to pick up, but Denis Durnian, Scotland's Russell Weir and reigning champion Noboru Sugai also shot 67s as conditions freshened.

However, the match of the day featured Smyth, paired with former US Open champion Fuzzy Zoeller, when they exchanged 67s in the most demanding conditions of the day with Turnberry's notorious back nine playing several shots tougher than the regulation 35.

Smyth's round could have been so much better had it not been for three three-putts, once on the front nine and back-to-back on the 15th and 16th, but overall he was pleased.

"I'm happy with my game, but my putting has been letting me down a bit all season and did so again today. But I have to be pleased with 67 in these conditions and I'd like to think I'll be there in the mix when Sunday comes around."

Less happy were Smyth's compatriots Christy O'Connor Jnr and Eamonn Darcy, both out before the 50-year-old from Drogheda.

Two-time Seniors Open champion O'Connor reached the turn in 33, but two sixes in the last three holes took the gloss off an otherwise solid round of golf.

"I have a huge ambition to win this for a third time, but we got the worst of the day and my round fell away over the back nine, but hopefully we'll benefit from quieter conditions tomorrow."

Darcy, playing alongside the legendary Arnold Palmer, who shot a tired six-over-par 76, was three under after 12 holes, but finished five, four, six, six, five to be four-over-par for the back nine.

"It was a disappointing back nine, awful really," said Darcy, adding, "It's as much a confidence thing, but I'm really not playing with any conviction."

The three leading Irishmen need sub-par rounds today to be in contention over the weekend, while Denis O'Sullivan will be disappointed with his one-over-par 71 shot in the morning, but can secure his participation over the weekend with a solid round late in the day.