TOLEDO, OHIO ? Bruce Lietzke has spent a lifetime traveling to golf courses, cashing checks and winning tournaments.

Never before had he had a day like he did on an overcast Saturday in the U.S. Senior Open.

Lietzke shot a 7-under 64 — which he called the finest round of his 29-year pro career — to take a four-stroke lead into the final round at Inverness Club.

“This would probably have to be at the top,” the big Texan said.

Lietzke’s 64 — which included five birdies on the home nine — left him at 9-under 204. He has never before won a major championship, although he’s had close calls during a long and productive career.

In 52 major championships — five as a senior and the rest while on the PGA Tour — Lietzke’s best finish is a second to John Daly in the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick. His best previous finish in an Open was a tie for 17th at Merion in 1981.

His lowest previous round in a major was a 66 in the final round of The Tradition a year ago.

“I’ve had 62s on the PGA and Champions Tours,” he said. “I’ve had tons of good rounds. But figuring how hard the golf course is … that’s probably the greatest round I’ve ever had.”

Allen Doyle, one of only four people in the field under par through 54 holes, said he was shaken by how well Lietzke was playing.

Bruce Lietzke waves after making birdie on the first hole at Inverness Club. Lietzke holds a four-shot lead after Saturday's third round of the U.S. Senior Open in Toledo, Ohio.

“He’s just been phenomenal,” said Doyle, in fourth place but eight shots behind Lietzke. “Every key putt he had to make, he made. He was never better than today.”

Vicente Fernandez, who started the day with a one-stroke lead over Tom Watson, shot a 71 and was tied with Watson for second place at 5-under 208. Watson had a 70 that included pars on his final 10 holes.

Lietzke opened and closed his round with birdies. In between, he never seemed to be out of position and seldom hit a bad shot — or at least one from which he couldn’t recover.

His 64 was five strokes better than the next best score in the third round — just as Fernandez’s 64 was the day before. Lietzke’s round featured nine birdies.

“I didn’t think that was going to be possible,” he said. “I don’t have any strategies. I always believe golf is a reactionary sport. You hit a drive and then react to it. Then you hit a shot to the green and react to that. I didn’t think that anyone would have those kinds of opportunities.”

Lietzke played the final 10 holes in 6 under, again and again pulling off stunning shots as he skirted trouble with sometimes errant drives.

Watson failed to make the long putts that had marked his opening-round 66. He had numerous birdie opportunities down the stretch but didn’t make any.

“I was backpedaling there on the back nine, seeing Bruce do what he did,” Watson said. “Desperation hasn’t set in yet. But I’d like to see if I can get a little closer tomorrow and put some pressure on him.”

Lietzke won 13 times on the PGA Tour and has won six more tournaments since joining the senior circuit in 2001. He tied for third behind John Jacobs earlier this year at the Senior PGA Championship, the first major of the year.

“I chipped in on one and made a whole bunch of putts and I got lucky a few times,” Lietzke said. “But I’ve got news for you: All those guys who have won Opens have all had some lucky breaks.”

Johnson leads St. Jude

Memphis, Tenn. — The putter never quite felt right in Richard Johnson’s hands Saturday. He didn’t let it bother him.

The Swede shot a steady 2-under 69, giving the PGA Tour rookie a one-stroke lead over David Toms after three rounds of the St. Jude Classic. Johnson planned to spend time at the practice green after needing 29 putts Saturday.

“Oh absolutely, I’m very happy how I performed. I hit the ball very solidly today,” Johnson said. “Under the amount of pressure I thought I was going to be on, I thought I did a great job. To shoot 2 under and still not putt well feels very well.”

Johnson, trying to win his first PGA Tour title in just his 14th start, had a 14-under 199 total.

Toms birdied two of his final three holes for a 65. He will be looking for his second victory this year and ninth in his career.

“I feel very comfortable,” Toms said. “I needed a low round. There’s a lot of guys that’s right there, and that’s the way it should be when you try to win a tournament. You need to play well on Sunday, and I’m going to have to play extremely well to have a chance.”

Tim Herron (65), Lee Janzen (67), Fredrik Jacobson (68) and David Peoples (70) were two strokes back. Ben Crane (64) was at 202, and Notah Begah (64) and third-round co-leader John Huston (73) were in a group at 203.

“Here it’s kind of a shootout, so it’s kind of moving day every day here,” Herron said. “I know I’m going to have to play really solid tomorrow and make quite a few putts to have a chance to win.”

Johnson has won before, taking the 2002 ANZ Championship using the Stableford scoring system on the European tour. He tried not to look at the leaderboard but kept catching glimpses. He said that might have contributed to his troubles with the putter 10 feet away from the hole.

“When I looked down at the putter, I just didn’t feel like I could get it square. It looked like somebody messed with it last night (but) that wasn’t the case,” Johnson said.

“I’m still striking it really well and just didn’t get the putter going today. I had a really bad day on the greens. Hopefully, I’ll play the same tomorrow and hopefully putt a little better.”

Stanford tops ShopRite

Galloway Township, N.J. — Angela Stanford shot a 4-under- par 67 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic, with Annika Sorenstam four shots back.

Stanford, who came into the day sharing the lead with two others, used solid iron play and putting to card five birdies en route to a two-day total of 132.

Four players were bunched up one shot behind her, including two-time Classic champ Juli Inkster, while 13-year-old Michelle Wie was 11 strokes back after a 72.

Sorenstam, the tour’s No. 1 player and the defending champion, roared back into contention after a lackluster opening round, shooting a 66.

Golding leads in France

Versailles, France — England’s Philip Golding shot a 4-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead in the French Open.

Golding, who has a record 16 visits to the European tour’s qualifying school in his winless career, was at 12-under 204.

Second-round leader Thomas Bjorn of Denmark (71) was a stroke back along with Pierre Fulke (67), Peter O’Malley (66), Barry Lane (67) and David Howell (69).