Three bogeys on Saturday meant Ernie Els has left himself with a lot to do if he is to contend for the title in the ISPS Handa Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale Golf Club in England.

Els also made four birdies in his third round as he moved to seven-under-par for the championship. But that was six strokes behind the leader, Padraig Harrington, who carded a five-under-par 65 in the third round to stretch his lead to two. In second is another former Open champion – like Harrington and Els – in Justin Leonard, who also had a 65 as he moved to 11-under-par.

Els, in a share of eighth, is looking to secure the eighth win of his Champions Tour career, the second win of his 2025 season (he took the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai) and his second senior major after the 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship.

If any of Harrington, Leonard of Els win, that man will become the fifth player to win both the Open Championship and the Senior Open, joining Bob Charles, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Darren Clarke.

Behind Els, Keith Horne got a big boost up the leaderboard with his five-under-par 65 lifting him into a share of 10th on six-under with American Cameron Percy and compatriot Darren Fichardt. Fichardt had a four-under-par 66 for his third round.