Saturday’s third round of the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield began with a sprinkle of major champions near the top of a cake baked with players looking for a first victory in one of golf’s four premier professional contests.

The one-shot lead belonged to Spaniard Miguel Ángel Jiménez alone, although it was hardly worth bragging about. A perennial contender in major events but never a winner, Jiménez made his return to grand slam competition after suffering a broken leg in a December skiing fall.

On his leather-clad heels were Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Englishman Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson of the U.S., all three with a major absence on their career resumes. Joined in the tie for 2^nd was the resurgent Tiger Woods, one of only three major champions in the top 10 after round two.

In a tie for  6^th, two behind the top score, were major champions Ángel Cabrera (U.S. Open and Masters) of Argentina, Zach Johnson (Masters) of the U.S., Scotsman Martin Laird and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello. Completing the top 10, at level par, was American Ryan Moore.

The two Spaniards fell off the pace on Saturday, struggling to 76 (Cabrera-Bello) and 77 (Jiménez) as the pressure mounted. Countryman Sergio Garcia matched the low round of the day, three-under 68, to move to the top 15 and retain a chance of an Iberian victory. Scotsman Laird fell even farther, ballooning to a horrific 81 and dashing all hopes for a home-country victory. Laird’s Saturday struggles left Paul Lawrie at T34 as the highest-positioned Scot after three rounds.

In truth, no one separated from the peloton with any vigor. Lee Westwood moved ahead, dropped behind and fought back to a one-under 70 to take a two-stroke advantage over Tiger Woods and Hunter Mahan into round four. The Englishman counted four bogies, three birdies and an eagle over his 18-hole trek on Saturday. He and Woods were tied at 2-under until a two-stroke swing took place on the par-five 17^th hole. Westwood got the ball into the hole in four strokes for birdie while the world No. 1 was unable to manage better than bogey.

Mahan continued to show signs of being comfortable in the major events, as he also tied for the best round of the day, notching five birdies versus two bogies on the day to tie Woods for second at 1-under for the tournament. Mahan battled until the final holes at Merion in June during the U.S. Open and heads into Sunday once again in the thick of things. Woods matched two birdies with two bogies to post an even-par 71 on Saturday.

Lurking within four strokes of the lead are major champions Adam Scott, Angel Cabrera and Zach Johnson. Phil Mickelson is within shouting distance at 2-over for the tournament. The leading figure at the 10^th Open championship to be played at Muirfield continues to be the golf course. Prepared with expert hands by the superintendent and his staff, Muirfield is playing fast and firm, bringing yellows, browns and tans into a normally green game. Players are confronted by 300-yard long iron shots, winds that kick up without warning and fairways that drip onto putting surfaces with little notice.

Players suggested that green speeds on Saturday were slower than previous days. This will not be the case if expected conditions arrive on Sunday. According to a PGA Tour report, winds are expected to peak tomorrow in the 15 mph range. If that is the case, the game will surely be on and the victor will have earned a win against the field, the course and the elements.