Langer's 64 leads Senior British by one

• By Associated Press
• Jul 26, 2012 4:46 PM ET

TURNBERRY, Scotland – Bernhard Langer shot a 6-under 64 Thursday for a one-stroke lead in his bid to add a second Senior British Open championship to the title he won at Carnoustie two years ago.

He picked up six birdies, reaching two par 5s in two before putting for birdies on the Alisa Course at Turnberry.

"I was very pleased with the way I played," Langer said. "Played smart. Hit some good drives, good iron shots and sank a few putts. Maybe left a couple of putts out there as well."

The Florida-based German lead Mark McNulty of Ireland, with Americans Tom Lehman and Michael Allen among those shooting 66.

Allen has enjoyed an impressive season on the Champions Tour, topping the money list with two wins this season.

"I played beautiful on the front nine, made a few mistakes in the middle then had a great finish," said Allen, who eagled the par-5 17th and birdied the 18th. "Out here in a short-sleeved shirt in Scotland playing this wonderful course is as good as it gets."

Lehman opened with a bogey at the first but made six birdies before dropping his only other shot with a bogey at the 16th.

Tom Watson, bidding for his fourth British Senior title and his second at Turnberry, was among a group at 69. Greg Norman, Fred Couples and Mark Calcavecchia finished the day at 72.

"The course is there for the taking on such a beautiful day and Bernhard did that. He's that good of a player and he's in good form," Watson said. "He and his caddie Terry really work out how the course should be played. That's why he's so successful."