With Watson chasing history, Westwood leads at the turn of a dramatic British Open

Westwood leads at the turn of dramatic Open

TURNBERRY, Scotland — England’s Lee Westwood had a two-shot lead on Tom Watson midway through the final round of the British Open.

Westwood birdied the sixth to pull into a tie for the top spot Sunday, then pulled off a brilliant second shot at No. 7 that stopped about 15 feet from the hole. He rolled in the eagle putt to push his score to 4 under — two ahead of Watson.

The 59-year-old Watson got a shot back with a birdie at No. 7, but an errant tee shot two holes later led to a bogey that restored Westwood’s two-stroke lead.

Watson is a five-time Open champion trying to become the oldest major winner in golf history.

Australia’s Mathew Goggin, playing with Watson in the final group, also was two strokes back.

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

TURNBERRY, Scotland (AP) — England’s Lee Westwood has surged into the British Open lead with an eagle at the par-5 seventh hole, knocking back 59-year-old Tom Watson.

Westwood birdied the sixth to pull into a tie for the top spot, then pulled off a brilliant second shot at No. 7 that stopped about 15 feet from the hole. He rolled in the eagle putt to push his score to 4 under — two ahead of Watson.

The five-time Open champion was trying to become the oldest major winner in golf history. He bogeyed two of the first three holes, then settled himself with a string of pars.

Ross Fisher of England grabbed a two-shot lead early on with a birdie-birdie start, but tumbled down the scoreboard after getting into Turnberry’s treacherous rough at the fifth and taking a quadruple-bogey 8.