July 19 (Bloomberg) -- England’s Lee Westwood bogeyed the 10th hole to cut his lead at golf’s British Open to just a stroke over five-time champion Tom Watson and Australian Mathew Goggin at golf’s British Open.

The 36-year-old, who was fourth in 2004, is at 3-under-par at Turnberry in Scotland. Watson, the overnight leader, and Goggin are 2-under.

Westwood, the winner of 18 European Tour titles, is aiming for his first victory at a major championship. His closest challenger has claimed eight majors, with the last at the British Open in 1983.

Westwood parred his first four holes before a bogey at the fifth, followed by a birdie then his eagle.

Ross Fisher of England led earlier today before hitting a quadruple bogey at the fifth hole as his ball became embedded in the rough on both sides of the fairway. He is now back at even- par.

The 59-year-old Watson had two bogeys in his first three holes, although he remains in contention after a birdie at the seventh and the collapse of Fisher.

Watson is aiming to break Julius Boros’s record for oldest major champion, set at the 1968 PGA Championship when he was 48. He would also tie Harry Vardon’s record of six British Open titles.

Watson, who had hip-replacement surgery last year, was second after the first round and shared the lead with Steve Marino after the second. He birdied the 16th and 17th holes yesterday to move ahead.

The American’s best finish this year was a fourth place at the Senior PGA Championship in May, where he shot a 4-under last round to reach even-par. He missed the cut at the Masters in his only other PGA Tour appearance this year.

Watson won his second British Open title in 1977, beating Jack Nicklaus by one shot at Turnberry in what has been dubbed “The Duel in the Sun.”

To contact the reporter on this story: James Cone in London at jcone@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 19, 2009 11:37 EDT