Colin Montgomerie aims to join golfing greats Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo in the record books when he takes a three stroke lead into the final round of the Victor Chandler British Masters at Woburn Golf and Country Club.
Ballesteros, in 1986, and Faldo, six years later, are the only players since the formation of the European Tour to have captured six titles in one season – and with five to his credit already, Montgomerie has the record-equalling sixth in his sights.
Montgomerie shot a third round 68, four under par, for a 17 under total of 199 to lead by three shots from American Bob May, by five from Eduardo Romero and by six from Christopher Hanell, who all recorded 66s.
Lee Westwood, who went into the final grouping with Montgomerie and Silvio Grappasonni, was unable to give the public the duel in the sun they expected with a level par 72 which leaves him with a seven stroke leeway to make up.
Of course, Westwood was five behind going into the final round of the TNT Dutch Open and seven adrift teeing off in the last round of the Smurfit European Open, before going on to lift both titles.
This time it may be just a little more difficult. After birdieing the last two holes to give himself an outside chance, Westwood said: “I don’t know it winning is still on. It depends how Colin plays tomorrow.”
Montgomerie, in his current form, is without doubt the player to beat. Victory and that sixth title means a lot to the Scot, who said: “I feel that any time I can emulate Seve or Nick at golf I can only be very pleased with myself. That’s why it was a big day for me when I won four Order of Merits in a row to overtake Seve.
“I’ve got six Order of Merits now which ties Seve and I would like to make it seven, because I think he is the reason that the Tour went from its beginnings to where it is now.”
May, who enjoyed the thrill of making an albatross on Friday, finished with a 40 foot putt for an eagle on the last to make Montgomerie work harder for that sixth title of the year.
The man from Las Vegas admitted: “I have one of the best players in the world in front of me. Tomorrow I am going to have to shoot something close to the course record to catch him.”
