A remarkable stroke of fortune at the 18th hole spared John Senden from a calamitous end to his round on day three of the Open Championship at Carnoustie.

The Australian sliced his approach at the last and it was heading out of bounds until it hit the spectator stand over to the right.

The then ball bounced back across the course and was headed out of bounds to the left, but was saved by it striking a fence pole which pushed it back into play.

Senden went on to make a double-bogey six for a par round of 71, but acknowledged it could have been a whole lot worse.

"I guess when it hit the pole I was very lucky not have eight or nine on the hole," said the 42-year-old, who is playing his third Open.

"It would have been a long walk back to hit another shot the same.

"I hit a three wood and it looked like it was going on the right and I was thinking it was over the next little hump on the right side there.

"I didn't hear anything, but then people were yelling out from the crowd it was on the left side and I thought well how the hell did it get over there? I didn't have a clue.

"I was thinking I could still make a five, but when it ended up where it did I thought I'd up-and-down it and I ended up with a good day."