Monty fails to ignite
Colin Montgomerie failed to get off to the flying start he was looking for as the third round of the Omega European Masters got underway.
Montgomerie began his third round on four under par at Crans-sur-Sierre, six shots off the lead held by defending champion Robert Karlsson.
The 40-year-old Scot knew he still had a chance of getting amongst the leaders however if he could post a good score before the tricky greens became more treacherous in the afternoon.
But the former European number one could only par the first three holes, not for the first time this week failing to take advantage of the par fives.
A combination of the high altitude and modern technology means the par fives are essentially par fours, but while all three players in the group before and two in the group behind made birdie, Montgomerie had to settle for a par.
Karlsson held a one-shot lead over veteran Argentinian Eduardo Romero, with Ernie Els, Michael Campbell and Trevor Immelman another shot behind.
Karlsson also led after the first round, and led from start to finish last year on his way to a four-shot win and fifth European Tour victory.
Irish golfers Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and Graeme McDowell all failed to make the cut.
