As a Spaniard sits at the head of a class field which includes an imposing defending champion and another of golf’s all-time greats, the spirit of Seve Ballesteros could be felt all around St Andrews last night.

That the duo in question among a tight-packed chasing pack are Bernhard Langer and Tom Watson, the men who finished in joint second place behind Ballesteros the day he performed the victory jig which remains one of the most iconic moments in his sport’s history, only intensified those memories of that joyous 1984 Open.

Miguel Angel Jimenez has said he has drawn inspiration from his great compatriot who played only one Champions Tour event as a result of the illness that so prematurely ended his life, but while the leader here has performed ever better with age, winning 14 of his 21 European Tour titles since turning 40 and his first Major title at the Regions Tradition earlier this year, he knows he has not taken his opportunities as often as he might have.

“I like the tournament, of course and I like St Andrews. I hope to have not more top tens . . . I would love to win,” he said last night.

“You never know what is going to happen. It's going to be hard and there are some top players there and all playing very well. I think whoever has the most patience and most rhythm in these conditions will win.”

On that basis no-one is better equipped than Langer, the defending champion menacingly placed as he shares second place with Americans Kirk Triplett and Tom Pernice jr as well as Canada’s Stephen Ames, two shots behind Jimenez.

The German will be well supported, but the most popular winner of all would surely be Watson, the grandee of the game who achieved the near astonishing feat of matching his age around The Old Course on Friday as he continued his 40-year bid to win at golf’s most celebrated venue.

The decision to host The Senior Open at St Andrews for the first time has drawn the strongest ever field to the event, but having claimed Open Championship wins at every other Scottish course on the rota, Watson’s campaign has taken on the look of a grand old adventurer pursuing his personal Holy Grail in this latest bid to tame The Old Course and return home with a major prize.

Now 68, he first arrived in The Auld Grey Toun as a sprightly defending champion, having triumphed in the celebrated Duel in the Sun the previous year and jointly led going into the final round, only for Jack Nicklaus to gain his revenge for that 1977 defeat at Turnberry with a classic Golden Bear charge.

Six years later Watson had managed a successful defence of the title and, in pursuing a hat-trick, led the way after three rounds, only to falter in the closing holes as Seve surged.

Watson moved into the outright lead twice yesterday and while he again toiled over the closing stretch he heads into the final round just three behind Jimenez and he has by no means given up hope of finally claiming victory here.

“It's good to be in the position,” he said.

“I wish I had just been a couple shots lower, because this course, it always bunches up. Right now, I'm in a bunch just behind the leaders and going to have to play some really good golf tomorrow to come out in front.”

Another shot further back, Colin Montgomerie is part of the group just outside the top 10 and, after a level par 72, reckons he has “a real chance” as the lone home hope after playing partner Sandy Lyle slumped to a 78.