Davis sets up shot at first title

Briton Brian Davis set himself up for a maiden European Tour victory when he headed a strong Spanish Open field by a stroke after Sunday's third round.

A six-under-par 66 took him to an 11-under 205 total, one better than rookie Austrian Markus Brier, who carded 67 at the PGA Catalunya course.

European number one Colin Montgomerie clashed with an amateur photographer and again did not have the best of days on the greens.

He trailed by three strokes after running up a double-bogey at the 10th on his way to a 70.

Argentine veteran Eduardo Romero shot 65 for 207 and third place ahead of the Scot.

Carlos Rodiles of Spain joined Montgomerie in fourth place but another Spaniard, overnight leader Juan Quiros, fell eight off the pace with a 77.

Davis made his bid with six birdies before dropping his first shot at the 14th. But he recovered immediately with his final birdie on 15.

He admitted that leading was a totally new experience and knew who to watch out for.

"I don't know what to plan for the final round because I've never been in this position before," said Davis, in his fifth year on tour and with a third and fifth place to his name this year.

"I'll just do what I normally do and that's practise tonight, work out, dine and go to bed early.

"I think it's going to take at least four-under, possibly one more, and I've got Colin Montgomerie only three behind as well.

"If it's windy then Eduardo Romero might be the chief threat, because he's so experienced around the world."

Brier, playing in his rookie year, gave himself the chance to win with three birdies in each nine.

"There are only 11 pros in my country so experience is limited," said the Vienna player. "But I played international amateur golf for 10 years, so I'm not totally inexperienced.

"I came to the tour after finishing third on the Challenge Tour last year and my coach Claude Grenier has told me what to expect.

Romero threw down his challenge by using the controversial USGA-banned 'ERC' Callaway driver.

"I'm using the new Callaway driver for the first time this week and it's added 25 yards to my driving," he said.

"My ball flies away like a plane and today I only missed one fairway. I put in a new whippier shaft yesterday and it's given me a new life."

Romero's last win of his six was the 1994 European Masters and he collected the Spanish title in 1991 when he beat Seve Ballesteros over a seven-hole sudden-death play-off.

Montgomerie, who was bunkered on 10 and three-putted, has not given up his chances and said: "I've won from further back than this.

"The double-bogey on the 10th stopped me in my tracks but I've won from three back and that's what I have to do, what I came here for."

Montgomerie took a camera from a fan on the 12th and handed it to a marshal.

Sergio Garcia of Spain was five back after a 66.

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