Padraig Harrington is in a dominant position as he eyes up the US Senior Open crown.
Harrington, 50, has won three major titles on the regular Tour.
But the Dubliner now has a golden chance of adding a senior tour to his haul heading into Sunday after a superb third round at Saucon Valley Country Club’s Old Course.
READ MORE : New kid on the block' Padraig Harrington seeking elusive US Open triumph at first senior attempt
Going out in the third round final group with a one shot lead over Steve Stricker, Harrington racked up an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys - both coming over his last four holes - to shoot 66 on the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania track.
And with Stricker making uncharacteristic errors, Harrington is five shots ahead of nearest challengers Gene Sauers and Rob Labritz, who carded a 68 and 69 respectively.
Ernie Els is a shot further back on four under, with Stricker on three under after a disappointing 73.
"I know, when it comes to this course with a five-shot lead, I've given myself plenty of options to win this tournament," said Harrington.
"That's the important thing.
"When you've got a lead like this, in not even a perfect world, but in dreamland, you think you're going to go out there and play well and run away with it, which is a possibility.
"I could play good tomorrow and have a nice comfortable day. I could play average tomorrow, and someone will have to come at me. Or I could play badly tomorrow, and I'll still have a chance.
"As long as I keep my head on my shoulders, even if I play badly, just stick in there. I'm sure I'll have a chance coming down the stretch to turn things around if I'm not having a good day.
"I've basically given myself a lot of hands to win this."
Harrington made the flying start he wanted, birdieing his first two holes and another birdie on the par five sixth saw him reach the turn in 33.
He then birdied 10 before a superb approach on the par-five 12th saw him sink an eagle putt.
The Stackstown man made his first bogey in 42 holes on the par-four 15th, when his attempt to drive the green saw him find a poor lie in the left rough and he found a greenside bunker with his second shot.
Harrington left himself a 12-foot putt for par but missed, only to bounce back immediately on the next hole, somehow leaving himself three foot for birdie after getting himself out of position off the tee.
A solid up and down on the par-three 17th left left him with the final hole to negotiate.
But Harrington had work to do after an errant 115 yard approach from the rough saw him have to scramble with a long-range putt to save par.
He just failed to do so after being forced to pitch well past the flag with his second shot but Harrington is the man to beat on Sunday and he is clearly enjoying himself.
"It's really nice," he said of the crowd reception. "Yeah, I suppose this is why I've come out on the Champions Tour.
"I'm fed up playing in the middle of the field and not having the bit of balls that you get from having fans out there supporting you and cheering you and the excitement.
"That's why you're here. It was great to have it. Plenty of Irish people, but I think everybody out there supporting.
"For my experience in the Champions Tour, this has been surprisingly well supported. This is like a regular tournament, so very impressed with that."
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