Late stumbles from co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Jeff Maggert gave extra hope to their pursuers, including history-chasing Tom Watson, after the third round at the U.S. Senior Open on Saturday.
German Langer and American Maggert bogeyed the final hole to fall back to a one-stroke lead over a group of eight, including Watson, who at age 65 is trying to become the oldest major winner in Champions Tour history.
Defending champion Colin Montgomerie is also one stroke behind, while Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez is among another large group two back.
Nobody will be planning a victory speech, not with 16 players within two shots of the lead on a jam-packed leaderboard at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, California.