Dave Marr Jr., son of 1965 PGA Championship winner Dave Marr, is a broadcaster for The Golf Channel and covers the Champion's Tour. He shares his thoughts this week with www.ussenioropen.com.

What a day. Don't tell me it's a short course. Don't tell me the conditions were ripe. The USGA has been staging Open championships for 111 years, and no one has ever shot better than 63, not in a U.S. Open, not in a Women's Open, not in a Senior Open.

What makes Loren Roberts' record-setting round that much more impressive is his recent struggle to find his form. Loren started the year with three consecutive victories on the Champions Tour, didn't finish out of the top 10 in 10 starts and was inside the top 30 in three of his four PGA Tour starts.

After the Barclay's Classic he took a couple of weeks off and then came back to the Champions Tour in Kansas City, finishing tied for 57^th. I hadn't seen him this focused on his game, working to unlock the secrets to his early season success, and after opening with two rounds over par he did so. He hit the opening fairway for the first time this week, boosting his confidence. Needing only 10 putts on the opening nine and turning in 30 he kept up the pace, without protecting his round. Adding three more birdies on the back nine he wasn't aware of the record, but knew his work put him in rare territory. It's a golf axiom that following a low round with another borders on impossible, but remember, Roberts shot 63-67-61 to open the Champions Tour season this year.

After back-to-back 66s, Tom Watson has the hometown fans hopeful for a Kansas victory. Cheered at every turn this week, there were times today at Prairie Dunes when I could have sworn I was at Augusta. There were birdie cheers, eagle cheers and Watson cheers. Standing by the 18^th green we could follow Watson's progress by the distant roars or groans and barely need a leaderboard.

Mark James must have had the most commendable round of the day, shooting 69 alongside the crowd favorite. The captain of the 1999 European Ryder Cup team knows the vagaries of playing against a gallery favorite, but even he must have been unnerved when his eagle at seven was met with polite applause just prior to Watson's thunderous birdie. The easygoing Englishman doesn't seem to mind, however, posting three consecutive sub-70 rounds this week.

Speaking of sub-70 rounds, Allen Doyle also has three this week. He's the defending champion and shot 63 on Sunday to win last year. Doyle relishes the underdog role. Don't be surprised if Watson has his hands full on Sunday with his playing competitor. The lead group tees off at 9:30 local time.

Fred Funk found his groove on Saturday. His 65 was good for a strong move up the leaderboard, and while he passed a number of players, he only picked up one shot on the lead. It will take something special for him to win, but it seems that any rookie jitters he may have felt are now firmly in his rearview mirror.

Finally, Roberts got exactly what he wanted. Hopeful for a starting time with Watson on Sunday, Roberts was full of praise for the Kansan, saying he tries to hit balls next to Watson on the practice tee because Tom's solid action is a pleasure to watch. As an added bonus, Doyle will also be in the lead group. As the 54-hole co-leader last year, Roberts could only watch the scoreboard as Doyle posted his record-tying number to clip Loren and D.A. Weibring by a shot. Roberts' 62 might have been a measure of payback with the final installment due on Sunday.