Montgomerie moves into view

Colin Montgomerie for the Open championship at Muirfield? Maybe ,but don't bet on it. Europe's finest golfer in the 1990s moved back into contention for the Smurfit European Open yesterday, but then declared: "I'm knackered. It takes a lot out of me, a round of golf. It didn't used to but it does right now. It's because of all the strain I'm feeling.''

Montgomerie, who came into the championship after receiving treatment to a back ailment, shot 68 in the third round yesterday at the K Club (the letter stands for Kildare rather than Knackered) and at four under par for the tournament he is well placed on the leaderboard, three strokes behind the New Zealander Michael Campbell and two behind Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Open champion, and the local hero Padraig Harrington.

The Dubliner slipped up at the penultimate hole with a bogey five, taking three putts, but saved his best for the last. The 18th is a par-five of 537 yards and Harrington plundered it. Left with an approach shot of about 240 yards, he hit a magnificent iron to within five feet of the flag, which brought a roar from the crowd. There was an even louder ovation a few minutes later when he rolled in the putt for an eagle three and a round of 69.

Campbell, the overnight leader, remained at the head of affairs following a two-under-par round of 70 while Lawrie, whose only blemish was a bogey five at the second, came in with a 69 that contained four birdies including a four at the last.

England's Barry Lane, who was paired with Campbell, had an awful start with bogey fives at the first two holes before recovering with five birdies in a round of 71. At five under, he too will be in the thick of the action in the fourth and final round today.

According to Montgomerie, the K Club was playing hard to get but it did not prevent Ian Woosnam and Fred Funk coming in with 67s early in the day to stand at two under.

"The course is playing very difficult,'' Montgomerie said. "At the 15th I hit a driver and a three iron. I think they must have positioned the pins in the dark. It's become a very, very tough golf course and it's amazing how four under is in with a chance of winning.''

Montgomerie, who has resorted to a putter that is longer than the conventional model but shorter than the pendulum club that is used by, among others, Woosnam, was satisfied with his work on the greens. This makes a change, but his driving is out of sync.

"I'm pulling the ball left and I don't know why,'' Monty said. "It's not good enough. You have to drive the ball well to win here and I've got to be careful tomorrow. If I can put the ball on the fairway I can win because everything else is going well.'' Montgomerie, who claims the game is 100 per cent mental, could have done with the support of a psychologist on Friday night after hitting his ball into the lake at the 18th and taking six. Yesterday he had a birdie four at the last, missing his first putt from 100 feet by an inch.

Woosnam was also in good form on the greens, starting with a 20ft birdie putt at the first and picking up another stroke at the short third where he hit a six-iron to two feet.

''I've had the worst of the weather and if the greens dry out a little they get a bit crusty and putts are hard to hole. They're very hard to read. The way guys hit the ball so far off the tee you have to have some punishment somewhere.''

Woosnam was on the leaderboard going into the final round of the Open at Royal Lytham 12 months ago but a two-stroke penalty for carrying an extra club in his bag cost him dearly. "I don't think about it,'' he said. "I just get reminded by you guys.''

Woosnam is now employing a putter that is almost as long as his 5ft 4in frame. "I feel more comfortable with it,'' he said. "I would like to use the short putter but it shakes in my hand.''

Darren Clarke, the defending champion, had a disastrous front nine, going to the turn in 41 and a 76 put him at four over par for the championship.

Clarke had six bogeys in a row from the second hole, his worst sequence at one of his favourite courses. "I tried on every shot but nothing worked for me,'' the Irishman said. "It was just one of those days.''

The K Club is the venue in 2006 for the Ryder Cup match between Europe and the United States. "I think it will be a good location,'' Woosnam said. "They keep making alterations and I'm sure they will get it right. It is important to see how the greens come on in the next couple of years. I think they will continue to improve.''

Woosnam and Monty play in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond next week, the last tournament before the Open championship. "I've heard Loch Lomond is very, very wet,'' Woosnam said, "and I get back ache when it is really wet and spongy.'' Montgomerie knows the feeling.