| Cologne,
Germany 26th September 1998 -
Two late mistakes
by USPGA champion Vijay Singh and a blemish-free third round from Colin Montgomerie
brought a dramatic change atop of the Linde German Masters leaderboard on Saturday.
Long-time leader
Singh came to the 17th a stroke ahead of Montgomerie but then the Fijian played
an air shot from greenside to double-bogey and went into the lake on the last
to throw away his top position. Montgomerie,
again heating up the Volvo Ranking order of merit race, produced a scintillating
late run for a 6-under-par 66 to move into a one shot lead on 17-under-par 199.
Singh's errors
also denied him second place because he was overtaken by Montgomerie's playing-partner
Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who carded 67 for 200. The
Fijian now shares third spot on 201 with young Steve Webster. Veteran
Rodger Davis moved up to fifth place a further stroke behind after turning
back the clock with a 63, beating Harrington's Friday course record by a shot.
The third round
was marred by the death of a spectator from a heart attack, all the later groups
waiting for more than half an hour while the 83-year-old man was first vainly
given resuscitation and then air-lifted from the course. When
play resumed Montgomerie produced his run of birdies from the 12th which carried
him into the lead eventually. "It
was very unfortunate over the poor man," said Montgomerie. "I knew it
would be difficult to concentrate after that, but I did and my long stint of practice
the night before paid off. "It
wasn't just the birdies, though. Having a clean-sheet is not only important for
protecting your birdies but it keeps you confident and your mind fully focused.
"The third
round is always so important. You can either get into or out of position and that's
why it's a big thing not to drop a shot." Harrington
relied on a new-found relaxed attitude as he began with three successive birdies
and closed with two in the last three holes, looking for his second tour success.
Singh was disgusted
with himself for erring late. "I
messed up the chip on the 17th and then lost it on the 18th," said the Fijian.
Montgomerie,
in third place on the rankings, is now six strokes in front of European order
of merit top-placed Lee Westwood and seven in front of second-placed Darren Clarke.
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