by FROM GRAHAM OTWAY IN MUNICH , MAIL ON SUNDAY

The former double Masters winner and Ryder Cup captain goes into the final round of the BMW International two shots behind leader Retief Goosen, of South Africa. After shooting a seven-underpar 65 at Munich's Eichenried Club seven weeks before his 52nd birthday, a familiar steely glint was back in his eyes.

Langer has won three times on the American Seniors Tour this year and is ready to replace Irishman Des Smyth, who won the 2001 Madeira Island Open aged 48 years and 34 days, in the records books.

The German, who has not won the event in 19 previous attempts, said: 'Munich was where I started my career as an assistant pro, and it's been a great disappointment over the years not to win in front of all my friends and family.'

There seemed an army of them around the 16th green when he sank a 75ft-putt for his seventh birdie of the day.

But Goosen has led from day one when he shot a 64, and a 67 yesterday left him17 under par.

England's Nick Dougherty shared second place with Langer at 15 under until he put his last drive into water for a bogey on the 18th.

Earlier, Colin Montgomerie extended his long-standing European Tour record for holes-in-one to nine.

But he described his eight iron to the 156-yard eighth hole as 'the only decent shot I hit all day' as he finished 14 shots off the lead. He will complete a year without a top 10 finish today.

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