Montgomerie boosted by late birdies
Two late birdies saw defending champion Colin Montgomerie grab a share of the lead at the TCL Classic in China after posting a third-round 68 to keep alive his hopes of re-entering the world’s top 50 come tomorrow evening.
The Scot needs to finish no lower than second to stand a chance of achieving his goal and gaining entry to next week’s Players Championship, which in turn will improve his chances of making next month’s Masters.
However, he may find his way blocked by Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey – his playing partner for the last three days – who also shot 68 to join him at the top of the leaderboard in a three-way tie with Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol, who carded a 66.
In blustery conditions at the Yalong Bay golf club in Sanya, Hainan Island, Montgomerie’s round began well as birdies at the second and third put him into a share of the lead at 14 under only for three consecutive bogeys from the fourth to drop him back into the pack.
However, a good approach to the short 296-yard seventh and a short birdie putt moved him back to 12 under, while Casey also sunk a three-foot birdie putt – his second of the day – to go into a tie of the lead at 14 under.
Another great iron shot to the 580-yard ninth set up the chance of an eagle for Montgomerie but his 28ft putt shaved the left edge of the hole, although he walked away with birdie to go to 13 under.
That was one behind joint-leader Casey, who three-putted the green for par after mis-reading the break on his eagle putt of similar distance to his playing partner’s and then missing a straightforward 18-inch effort back for birdie.
Montgomerie salvaged par with a 15-foot putt on the next before moving to 14 under after a birdie at the 543-yard 13th, with Casey also picking up a shot to briefly tie the lead at 15 under before Plaphong birdied the 18th to set the clubhouse lead.
Casey then missed the green to the left at the par-three 15th and failed to get up and down to drop back level with Montgomerie.
The Englishman bounced back with a birdie at the par-five next while Montgomerie pitched to three feet at the 17th and joined his English playing partner at 15 under.
The Scot almost bettered that at the last with his approach almost spinning back into the hole to present a simple birdie for a round of 68 to tie the lead while Casey followed him in for birdie to make it a three-way tie at the top.
Ireland’s Paul McGinley, the third member of last year’s victorious Ryder Cup team playing in China, moved into contention at 13 under with five birdies and two bogeys in a round of 69.
Thomas Bjorn, Ryder Cup vice-captain at Oakland Hills, is just one shot off the lead in a tie for fourth.
