Montgomerie's hopes fade as Clarke leads

Colin Montgomerie's hopes of retaining his title of Europe's top golfer went into freefall during a dramatic third round at the Volvo Masters on Saturday.

Montgomerie, needing to win here and at the last European Tour event of the season next week to keep his order of merit title for the eighth year in a row, had slipped from three shots off the lead overnight to nine behind by his 13th hole.

Worse still, the two men best placed to succeed him -- Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood -- were both well clear of him near the top of an ever-changing leaderboard.

Northern Irishman Clarke, who fired four birdies and one bogey on the front nine, was on nine under after 13 holes, one behind Stephen Leaney of Australia and two behind leader Pierre Fulke of Sweden.

Westwood, meanwhile, leading this season's European standings just ahead of Clarke but struggling here since his first round of 76, rediscovered his form at last with a sparking round of 65 to take the early clubhouse lead with a six-under-par total of 210.

The Englishman, 58th out of 66 on the first day and in 38th place on one over after his second round, made six birdies and an eagle before finding the water on the 18th with his tee-shot for his only bogey of the round.

He blamed that mishap on a spectator who moved just as he reached the top of his backswing.

"I think he would be well advised to steer clear of me," Westwood said. "He had one arm in a plaster cast. He's lucky it's not two.

"I won't be signing his plaster cast."

Montgomerie's problems began at the second, when he fluffed a chip just off the green, advancing the ball just a couple of feet. He took a bogey while Clarke, his playing partner, holed a 28ft putt for a birdie.

Two more bogeys followed for the Scot in the next three holes. He cushioned the blows with two birdies but another dropped shot at the 13th left him stranded on two under par.

Clarke's third place was shared with Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain, who had gone out in one-under-par 35 after starting the day on eight under.

Several other players, including Swede Henrik Jacobson, were on eight under.

Westwood was soon joined at six under in the clubhouse by 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie and Bernard Langer, who both shot 68s. Lawrie's charge was spoilt by dropped shots at the 15th and 16th.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page