Todd Hamilton charged to the top of the leaderboard playing what he called "ugly golf" at Royal Troon - but insisted he can pull off a shock Open victory.

The 38-year-old Texas-based player hit the round of the day with a third round 67 to stand on eight-under, one stroke ahead of Ernie Els.

Hamilton will need to hold off the challenge of the South African former Open champion as well as the likes of Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods in the chasing pack, but he insisted he was capable of claiming the Claret Jug because his game was suited to the links conditions.

"This week it's a different style of golf, a style that I don't mind playing," said Hamilton. "I enjoy playing ugly golf, I like to call it.

"If you've got 200 yards it is usually a five or six iron, whereas here you take a three or four iron and just chip it and run it up on to the green. That's what I call ugly golf and I'm usually pretty good at ugly golf, unfortunately!

"I like this style of golf and for some reason this week I have been relaxed. I haven't played very well lately, if I do hit good shots I don't convert the birdie putts, but fortunately I've strung some good shots together, some good nine holes together, and a couple of good rounds together.

"It's a pretty good leaderboard and I am not one to shy away from looking at leaderboards - I want to know where I stand and I don't believe a lot of the guys who say they don't look at leaderboards.

"I felt very calm today and I don't see why I wouldn't feel the same tomorrow. Nobody expected me to win before the tournament began and probably not too many expect it to happen tomorrow, but I'll be trying 110 per cent. Ben Curtis did it last year and I don't see why it can't happen again."