 Monty composed himself after a woeful start to stay in the chase |
Colin Montgomerie remained hopeful of sealing an elusive first major title at the US Open after shaking off a nightmarish start to his third round. The Scot looked in trouble after just four holes but fought back and saved par on 17 and 18 to be three off Phil Mickelson and Kenneth Ferrie's lead.
He said: "To be five over after four was a disaster so to be five over at the finish was a hell of an effort.
"A 67 on Sunday and I've got a big, big chance of winning this thing."
Montgomerie had begun the day just one shot off the lead and with high hopes of ending his quest for a major title at the 58th attempt.
Rounds of 69 and 71 for a level-par halfway total saw the 42-year-old in the final group at the US Open for the first time since 1994.
 | If I drive the ball the way I know I can I will be OK |
But Montgomerie dropped five shots in the opening four holes to slide down the leaderboard. His birdie at the 5th was cancelled out by another bogey on the 6th and his first par on Saturday did not come until the 7th.
But the eight-time European number one steadied himself for the rest of the round to finish only three shots off the lead with 18 holes to play after a third-round 75.
"If I drive the ball the way I know I can I will be OK," he added.
"I am three behind and that's an opportunity. I have very few opportunities left at this thing and I want to give it my best shot."
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Interview: Colin Montgomerie