Fisher takes quadruple-bogey 8, Watson back into tie for British Open lead despite slow start

Fisher takes quad, Watson back into tie for lead

TURNBERRY, Scotland — Tom Watson has reclaimed a share of the British Open lead after England’s Ross Fisher took a quadruple-bogey 8 when he got caught up in Turnberry’s treacherous rough.

The 59-year-old Watson, trying to become golf’s oldest major champion, bogeyed two of the first three holes Sunday and slipped out of the overnight lead. But Fisher’s woes at No. 5 allowed Watson and surging Englishman Chris Wood to move back to the top of the leaderboard at 2 under.

Fisher birdied the first two holes, the second with a chip-in from behind the green, to get to 5 under — two shots clear of the field.

Then an errant drive led to bogey at No. 4. Another poor drive landed in the thick grass right of the fifth fairway. He needed two swings to hack it out, but the ball shot sideways into even more trouble in the left rough. After taking an unplayable, Fisher finally reached the fairway with his fifth shot.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

TURNBERRY, Scotland (AP) — England’s Ross Fisher has snatched away the British Open lead from Tom Watson, who’s trying to become golf’s oldest major champion.

Fisher — his wife overdue in giving birth to their first child — pulled into a tie for the top spot just as Watson was teeing off, rolling in a 15-foot birdie putt at No. 1. The Englishman made it two birdies in a row when he chipped in from behind the green, pushing his score to 5 under.

The 59-year-old Watson had the 54-hole lead at 4-under 206, but he immediately lost a stroke after a sloppy approach shot at No. 1 put him in a bunker, and an 8-foot putt to save par slid past the right side of the cup.

Australia’s Mathew Goggin, playing in the final group with Watson, parred the first hole to stay at 3 under.