GOLF ROUNDUP : Old Putter Does Some New Tricks for Player

What better place for a 30-year-old putter than the Senior Tour?

Gary Player, wielding a club he has used since 1961, made seven birdie putts ranging from three to 35 feet and shot a six-under-par 65 Saturday for a two-stroke lead in the Royal Caribbean Classic at Key Biscayne, Fla.

“I’ve had this putter for a long time,” Player said. “It’s traveled over 6 million miles, but it’s not tired yet.”

Going into today’s final round, Player was at 10-under-par 132, a tournament record for 36 holes. Chi Chi Rodriguez, who shared the first-round lead with Bruce Crampton, shot a 68 and was in second place at 134.

Al Geiberger, winless last year, was third at 135.

Crampton fell to six under when he drove into a patch of mangroves at No. 18 and took a double bogey to finish with a 70.

Defending champion Lee Trevino shot a 66 and was tied with Crampton and three others for fourth place.

Meg Mallon, seeking her first victory on the women’s golf tour, started with a 60-foot birdie en route to a three-under-par 69 and a two-stroke lead entering the final round of the $400,000 LPGA event at Lake Worth, Fla.

Mallon started the third round in the rain, tied for the lead with Dottie Mochrie and Colleen Walker. But the 27-year-old former Ohio State player soon found herself alone on top and finished the round at 11-under 205.

Betsy King (69) is at 207 in the race for the $60,000 first prize.