Lu Chien-soon shot a 2-under 68 on Saturday to move into a share of third place at the U.S. Senior Open, five strokes behind leaders Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer with one round left.
The Taiwanese player will be in the second-to-last group, paired with Tom Kite.
Lu was once among the top Asian players in the world, a 32-time winner on the Asia circuits and a two-time winner of the Asian Tour's Order of Merit. Then he was forced to quit because of a bad back.
Lu went seven years, from 2001-08, without playing competitive golf. Then through herbal medicines, physical therapy and ancient treatments, he recovered.
He turned 50 in December and wanted to test his renewed game against the best on the Champions Tour. To do that, he had to go through Qualifying School.
Lu went on to earn the 12th and final spot to qualify for the Tour. He did it with a birdie on the eighth playoff hole.
This season, he has four top-10 finishes on the Champions Tour and now finds himself among some star company - in contention for the tour's biggest prize.
''When I go on the course, since the first day, I just try to keep it on the path,'' Lu said through an interpreter. ''I don't want to do something aggressive. I think if I do it this way I have chance, even if it's Top 10.''
Asked how his countryman back in Taiwan would react if he should win the Open, Lu said, ''Of course, everyone feel excited. You know, like not some sports are really famous, like baseball, golf right now, so everyone would cheer for me. . .hero, yeah, hero.''
