updated 6:01 p.m. ET July 16, 2009

TURNBERRY, Scotland - Tom Watson, famous for winning the "Duel in the Sun" that forever links him with Turnberry, is at the stage in his career where the British Open should be a ceremonial stroll into the sunset.

This is the era of Tiger Woods. This is the title defense of Padraig Harrington.

Yet at age 59, with wrinkles framing his gap-tooth grin, Watson poured in birdie after birdie, reviving his spiritual connection on Scottish links with a bogey-free round of 5-under 65. (Click here for leaderboard)

"There's certain shots on the golf course that I remember how to play," Watson said.

His name was atop the leaderboard Thursday for six hours, giving Turnberry the buzz that Woods couldn't deliver, until Miguel Angel Jimenez came through with a 66-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 64 and his first lead in a major.

Even then, the 45-year-old Spaniard knew the moment belonged to Watson.

"What a legend," Jimenez said.

Watson might have been the only one who saw this coming.

He said two weeks ago that his primary objective was to play well to "compete against the kids," some of whom where not even born when he won his epic duel against Jack Nicklaus in 1977.

Watson, though, couldn't help but embrace the memories himself on the eve of the British Open. He told of receiving a text message from Nicklaus' wife, Barbara, wishing him luck at Turnberry.

"I texted her back and said, 'You know, we really miss you over here,"' Watson said. "And I really meant it. It's not the same without Jack playing in the tournament."

At times, it sure looked the same.

Interactive Breaking down the British Open A look at the contenders for the season's third major. NBCSports.com

Dressed in an argyle sweater, Watson fired a 9-iron into 8 feet for a birdie on the opening hole. He dropped in another birdie from 20 feet on the 489-yard third hole, and never backed off. In surprisingly still conditions, he made it around Turnberry without a bogey, holing a 6-foot par putt on the last hole.

"I can still beat this golf course somehow," Watson said.

Jimenez also played bogey-free and finished strong. He lashed a 5-wood onto the green at the par-5 17th for a two-putt birdie from 65 feet, then rolled in a birdie putt on the 18th from just off the front of the green.

"Since I woke up this morning, you can see through the window and you look at the sea, it looked like a pond. So nice, so calm," Jimenez said. "You can't ask a better day to play golf. It took care of me."

Ben Curtis, who like Watson won the British Open in his first try in 2003 at Royal St. George's, had four birdies over his last six holes for a 65. They were joined by Kenichi Kuboya of Japan, who finished birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie from one of the final groups.

Steve Stricker led the group at 66, and he was among those who was swept up in seeing Watson's name atop the leaderboard.

"I think if Watson plays the way he played today, he can beat Tiger Woods and everyone else," Stricker said. "He flushed it today."

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