Wonderful Watson keeps title dream alive

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - American journeyman Bryce Molder, making his first appearance in the British Open, was setting the pace in the clubhouse on level-par early in the third round on Saturday.

The 30-year-old, who has a rare defect which means his left hand is much smaller than his right, charged through the field with a three-under-par 67 for a total of 210.

That left Molder five strokes off the lead held by 59-year-old Tom Watson and fellow American Steve Marino, who start their rounds at 1500 local time (10:00 a.m. EDT).

Mark Calcavecchia was in third place on four under, one ahead of fellow late starters Ross Fisher of Britain, South African Retief Goosen, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, Japanese Kenichi Kuboya and Fijian Vijay Singh.

Out on the course Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand made an encouraging start, claiming three early birdies to move to three under for the championship.

In light breezes and bright sunshine on Turnberry's Ailsa Course, Molder opened poorly with bogey fives at the third and fifth.

However, the world number 137 turned his fortunes around with a burst of three birdies in five holes from the eighth.

Several pins were in more favorable positions than they had been earlier in the week and Molder, yet to achieve a breakthrough victory on the PGA Tour, took full advantage by making further inroads on par at the 15th and 17th.

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)