Torrance and Lyle pursue leading trio

Darren Clarke found two of Europe’s ‘‘golden oldies’’ challenging him for the Compass Group English Open at the Forest of Arden today.

Clarke’s outward 34 in the third round lifted him onto the 11-under-par mark and alongside France’s Raphael Jacquelin and Dane Soren Hansen.

But breathing down their necks were 48-year-old Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance and 44-year-old Sandy Lyle - Torrance after a 65, Lyle following a 66.

Ulsterman Clarke is bidding for a third win in four years at the event, one which would send him into the US Open and his head-to-head with Tiger Woods next Thursday and Friday in the best possible spirit.

He picked up shots on the second and seventh after going into the day joint leader with Scottish rookie David Drysdale, who managed only 38 for the outward half and fell four back.

Jacquelin and Hansen both went to the turn in 32 and were sharing top spot after the Lyon player had another birdie at the 10th and Hansen - no relation to Volvo PGA winner Anders - eagled the 12th and birdied the short 15th.

At the start of the day Torrance produced a real blast from the past to give himself a chance to become the oldest winner in European Tour history.

Torrance, a lowly 180th on the Order of Merit last year, said: ‘‘I had no motivation the last two seasons - my mind was somewhere else.’’ Primarily, of course, on Ryder Cup preparations.

‘‘But I think now that there’s definitely another win left in me.

‘‘Age is only a number. I am very fit, supple, my shoulder turn’s good and so is my nerve.’’

Thanks to a diet change Torrance has shed more than three stones off the 16-stone frame he had just 18 months ago.

He went to the turn in a mere 31 strokes and then added further birdies on the 11th, 12th and long 17th - a brilliant up and down from thick rough there.

‘‘Lead by example - that’s what I was always told,’’ he added, but his tee shot to the 211-yard 18th was pushed into sand and his recovery came out 20 feet short of the flag.

Although the match with the Americans was postponed for 12 months because of the September 11 attacks Torrance has felt more able this season to concentrate on the job he has been doing for 31 years now.

He is the longest-serving active player on tour, this being his 669th event.

Already with three top 20 finishes this year he seems to be playing better than some of the 12 players who will be performing for him in three months’ time.

Lee Westwood, most notably, has had just one top 20 finish in the last nine months and this week pulled out after four holes because of an arm injury.

‘‘I don’t think it’s a serious problem. He just wanted to protect it,’’ commented Torrance, who also dismissed worries about Colin Montgomerie’s back by saying: ‘‘There’s nowt wrong with Monty.’’

Lyle had a 65 in the British Masters last week and four birdies in the last seven holes this afternoon gave another boost to the former Open and Masters champion’s confidence.