Luke Donald is "not surprised at all" 59 year old Tom Watson is leading The Open Championship - and Paul Casey thinks it would be "fantastic" if the American went on to win.
"I've always thought he was a great ball-striker," said Donald after a third round 70 kept him at three over.
The two played together on the first two days at St Andrews in 2005 - Jack Nicklaus was the third member of the group and the centre of attention in his last Open - and Watson finished 41st there.
"What most impressed me was, in a left-to-right wind, he could draw the ball and hold it perfectly,” added Donald. “We've had a lot of that here and obviously he's got a huge amount of talent."
Casey, the current World Number Three and therefore the highest ranked player left in following Tiger Woods' exit and Phil Mickelson's absence, managed only a 74 and dropped to eight over.
On Watson and 49 year old Mark Calcavecchia being in contention for the Claret Jug, Casey commented: "It's about controlling yourself and controlling the ball and those guys still have supreme skills. It's great to watch."
The Surrey golfer, three times a winner this year, dropped four shots in the first five holes to dash any hopes of getting back into the title race.
"A very difficult course on a very difficult day,” was his assessment. “If you don't have control of your ball and try to guide it in any way you're going to be penalised.
"I love the course - I just wish I was playing better. It just beats you up."
