The Open Championship, St Andrews, 15-18 July
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Montgomerie was three over after his third-round 74

By Colin Moffat BBC Sport Scotland at St Andrews

Five years ago at St Andrews Colin Montgomerie thrilled the packed galleries by outscoring Tiger Woods in Saturday's final pairing.

This time round it was an altogether more low key affair, with the big Scot completing a third round 74 almost an hour before the last group went out.

He was up against an American heavyweight again - world number four Steve Stricker - but could not replicate the form that saw him finish runner-up to Woods in 2005.

Gone were the hordes of reporters and photographers that followed his every move when playing with the world's most famous golfer.

There were six press men and a handful of snappers in attendance when Montgomerie teed off at 1135 BST. The number of media was down to three by the turn and by the last hole there was one - yours truly.

We had a police escort to begin with but Fife Constabulary's finest had been given the slip by the halfway stage.

While there was no repeat of the clamour and frenzy of 2005, there was once again an abundance of good will emanating from the crowd, and we had wigs.

St Andrews was awash with novelty headwear five years ago, with entrepreneurs doing a brisk trade in Montgomerie hairpieces, which, in truth, bore more resemblance to Harpo Marx or Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough circa 1978.

Monty's Tartan Army was reduced to just three this time.

But the lads - James and Ross Mungavin and Callum Lord from Dunblane - made their presence felt.

The huge cheer that marked his birdie at the last hole spoke volumes about the affection in which Montgomerie is held by golf fans

Decked out in their wigs, tartan and t-shirts hopefully emblazoned '62, Still got it!' and 'I heart Monty', they popped up at the fifth green just in time to roar in approval as their man sunk an eagle putt.

That moment of excellence came at just the right time, with four shots having been haemorrhaged over the preceding holes.

Despite the dark cloud that loomed overhead as he took to the first tee, Montgomerie opened brightly with a tap-in par.

Having taken time to offer encouragement to Rory McIlroy on the practice putting green, this year's Ryder Cup skipper split the fairway with a booming first drive into a stiff wind.

However, that accuracy deserted him soon after, with bogey, double-bogey following.

The fourth hole on the Old Course is named Ginger Beer and Monty's face was fairly fizzing as an errant drive found its way onto a spectator's path and a duffed recovery shot resulted in the loss of another stroke.

The welcome eagle steadied the good ship Monty to the turn, although there were groans from the crowd as opportunities for further gains were missed by the narrowest of margins at seven and eight.

Buoyed by a birdie at the ninth, his ample chest was puffed and he tossed his ball to his wig-wearing followers, who had taken a seat in the stand.

The belly-putter he resurrected to invoke memories of five years ago served him well at nine, with a great effort from way off the green nestling close to the hole.

But he was to drop the club in frustration at the 10th as his ball stopped millimetres from its intended target and a glorious tee-shot was wasted at the 11th when a short putt trickled wide.

Monty's, long, slow swing remains a thing of beauty but his short game has deserted him and those missed chances represented his last few years of struggle in microcosm.

The constant encouragement from the sidelines must have been heartening but his 47-year-old legs looked weary as he trudged down the home straight.

An ugly three-putt at the 13th was cruel on him after helping to find Stricker's ball in the wispy rough in front of the green and he immediately made amends by draining a long effort at the next.

The newly-extended 17th has claimed several victims this week and the Scot found two nasty patches of the thick stuff on his way to a double-bogey six.

Montgomerie may have politely declined the opportunity to say a few words to waiting reporters, even the one who accompanied him all the way, but the huge cheer that marked his birdie at the last hole spoke volumes about the affection in which he is held by golf fans.

With every year that passes, the chances of Monty breaking his duck in a major recede that bit further, but you can be sure he'll be doing everything he can to make it 22 consecutive Open Championships next year and you can bet the crowd will appreciate the effort.

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