TURNBERRY, Scotland (AP) Trying to become the first player since 1964 to win a major four years in a row, Karrie Webb put herself in contention at the Women's British Open on Saturday by reaching 8-under midway through the third round.

The Australian trailed Sweden's Carin Koch, who was 11-under through nine holes. Jenny Rosales of the Philippines was one stroke behind, and four other players were at 9-under.

Webb, winner of five majors in the past four years, has won the British Open twice. The Aussie also has 11 come-from-behind career victories, all from two strokes or more.

If Webb wins the championship for the third time, she will be the first since Hall of Famer Mickey Wright to have won majors four years in a row. Wright achieved the feat twice between 1957-64.

Starting her third round at 7-under under sunny skies and in relatively windless conditions at Turnberry, the Webb opened with a bogey. She rebounded to birdie Nos. 3 and 6, reaching 8 under by the turn.

Koch, 8 under after the first two rounds, briefly opened a two-stroke lead. After a birdie on No. 3, her 150-yard approach to the pin at the fifth stopped less than 4 feet from the flag, and she made the putt.

Rosales began at 5-under and raced to the turn in 32, moving to 10 under with another birdie at No. 11.

A stroke behind her were two LPGA rookies, Natalie Gulbis and Beth Bauer. Gulbis made up four strokes after starting at 5 under, while Bauer, who was 7 under, picked two shots.

Mi Hyun Kim, who had a severe cramp in her right foot, limped around the Turnberry links and shot a 3-over 75. She had won her last two tournaments on the LPGA Tour and was the runner-up at this tournament last year. The 5-foot-1 South Korean was 3-over and 11 shots behind the leaders.

"My right foot is bad and has got a bit worse each day," said Kim, who took off her right shoe between shots to relieve the pain. "My shoe was a bit too tight."

The smallest player left in the field, she was also unable to match the long hitters.

"My drive distance was always near a fairway bunker," said Kim, who won the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic at Squaw Creek Country Club on July 21 and the Wendy's Championship for Children at Tartan Fields last week.

She had two double bogeys, including one at the 462-yard, downwind par 5 third hole, which has been playing easy all week. She was exasperated after hitting into a bunker off the 16th tee.

"It's a difficult course for me, and easier for the longer hitters, because they can clear the bunkers," Kim said. "I have to navigate around them."

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