Ko, Lu share lead at British Open

The Kiwi made the worst possible start to her third round, double-bogeying the par-four opening hole.

However, Ko and the rest will in all likelihood have to produce their very best to overhaul the 34-year-old.

“Last year was the closest I’ve been”, Pettersen said.

Yet still the players have had to battle on and when they have done so with the skill, vision and courage of Pettersen then the courageous galleries who have stayed outdoors have been rewarded.

“I always felt I had a different gear in my body and going to Butch was the right thing”. “But now, feeling and seeing what I can do differently and how easy I can do stuff, it definitely has changed my perspective of my own career”.

“I’m a very impatient person, but when it comes to golf, I become more patient and can be even more patient”, Pettersen said. I haven’t been playing.

That was one shot ahead of Wales’s Amy Boulden, whose 68 contained five birdies and just one bogey and was the lowest round of the day.

Bogeys on the 17th and 18th were costly but the 19-year-old will be feeling upbeat she can make a good run at winning her first major just over two months since claiming her maiden LPGA victory at the Kingsmill Championship.

At lunchtime, Catriona Matthew, conducting a question and answer in the sponsors’ pavilion having just finished with a 77 for a four-over total, sounded none too convinced when it was suggested that the worsening weather might possibly get her inside the cut mark. “You learn something every year and that is what is so great about this game”.

“Today was a really good score and I never thought I would be leading such a big tournament“, said the smiling youngster. “I felt I was in 100 percent control of the ball, the flight, the spin – everything you need to do in conditions like this”.

Lydia Ko’s best finish from 15 major appearances before this week was runner-up to Pettersen at the 2013 Evian Championship in France. “It’s probably the best round ever in my golfing career”.

Pettersen, two ahead overnight, started with a bogey and was out in 38.

Ko, who opened with a six-under-par round, was another who was mightily impressed by Pettersen’s effort.

“Today was like playing a different course”, the teenager said. “I don’t feel like the swing thoughts change from day to day”, he said. We were tried to hide behind the signs for shelter. “Suzann must have played great”.

In testing conditions on Turnberry’s Ailsa Course, Ko joined world No. 1 Inbee Park and 19-year-old Australian Minjee Lee on five-under 211 after three rounds. She was at 11 over heading into the final round.

Former US Open champion Michelle Wie was forced to pull out of the event during the second round after aggravating an ankle injury.