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| |  Saturday, 21 July, 2001, 09:50 GMT 10:50 UK Monty plays mind games Montgomerie will be striving to keep his rivals at bay Colin Montgomerie says his chance of winning The Open at Royal Lytham is all in the mind. He has only a slim advantage over nearest rival Sweden's Pierre Fulke. The Scot saw his overnight lead cut from three to one after a second round 70, but reckons that he has the mental strength to hold on for glory. He will have to have his wits about him if he is to defend his position from the likes of a rejuvenated Fulke, twice runner-up Jesper Parnevik, and reigning champion Tiger Woods ominously poised just four shots back.
"The mental factor comes into it 99% from now on," said the 38-year-old, who is in daily contact with psychologist Hugh Mantle. "If you're not mentally right there is no point taking out any club. Mental strength is what it's all about now. "I'm quite comfortable in that department at this phase in my career. "I've only led once from start to finish and it is tiring." Montgomerie hopes to hold onto his lead for the next two days in a repeat of his triumph at the Irish Open three weeks ago.
Tom Weiskopf is the only player to have done it at The Open championship since Henry Cotton achieved the feat 67 years ago. Montgomerie will be paired with Fulke in the last group on Saturday - as they could be in the Ryder Cup in September. The pair will tee it up at 1515 BST. Fulke seems to be finally showing the kind of form that brought him the Volvo Masters last November and second in the world matchplay in January. Greg Owen, who led at one point on Friday, and Parnevik form the penultimate group after their matching 68s. Parnevik will be looking to go one better than 1994 and 1997 when he finished runner-up behind Nick Price and Justin Leonard respectively. | |
  
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