Australian Open: John Senden leads Justin Rose in Sydney event
By Paul Higham <i>Twitter: <a href=' http://bit.ly/e6TSqR' class='instorylink'>@SkySportsPaulH</a></i>
Sunday 9 December 2012 06:54, UK
Image:John Senden: Leading Australian Open ahead of Justin Rose
John Senden climbed onto the top of the leaderboard at the Australian Open after the third round in Sydney, but Justin Rose is now looming large in second place.
53-year-old Peter Senior last won on the European Tour 20 years ago, but is in third place after his round of 69, and he is three shots back alongside Kieran Pratt and Matthew Jones.
Four shots behind the leader is nine-time winner on the PGA Tour Stuart Appleby, who is hoping to end his nightmare run with a win on home soil.
"I'm hitting it better," Appleby said. "I hit it really well yesterday. I feel like I am coming back. I'd love to have made more progress a while back. You have to be patient. That is the beauty of this game. You have no real time period."
World number seven Adam Scott mixed five birdies with four bogeys for a round of 71, but he is still in touch in ninth at two-under, especially if conditions continue to be difficult.
63-year-old veteran Tom Watson struggled though, with the eight-time major winner making eight bogeys in a round of 78.
"It was ugly out there today for me, very ugly," said Watson. "I struggled on the practice area warming up, I didn't have any feel for the club and didn't put the clubface on the ball."
