Watson - trouble at 17th yet again (Getty Images)

Five-time Open champion and part-time course designer Tom Watson fell victim to the notoriously difficult 17th again today and afterwards admitted it would be impossible to recreate the Road Hole - for fear of being sued.

The blind tee shot requires a drive over the outbuildings of the Old Course hotel and the tightest line down the right takes you only yards from the windows of some of the rooms.

Watson bogeyed it today, as he did on Thursday, after coming up short of the green but his most famous moment on the hole came at the 1984 Open when he was tied with Seve Ballesteros on the final day.

Chasing a record-breaking sixth Open title he hit a two iron up against the wall over the road and that cost him a bogey - just as Ballesteros was making birdie on the last to secure his second Open.

"You couldn't build a hole like that today without a lot of insurance. There are too many lawyers around," joked Watson. "You can't even build holes close together in case an enterprising attorney comes along."

The home of golf, of course, has numerous shared fairways and greens.

Watson shot a two-under-par 70 today to move to one under in the tournament, producing a stunning finish - the 17th apart - with birdies at the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th.

The 55-year-old American revealed he was not a fan of the Old Course when he first played it but over the years he had come to appreciate it more and he said his 'local' knowledge had helped with his shot of the day at 16th.

His seven-iron approach at the 16th rolled to within a foot of the pin and although he admitted it was a slight pull he knew the bank at the front would roll it down to the hole.

"I didn't like this course at first but it has grown on me," he added.

"I didn't like the humps and bumps, the blind shots and how firm the golf course plays.

"I don't mind blind shots as long as you don't have too many.

"Any more than three is too many."