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| |  Saturday, 21 July, 2001, 19:10 GMT 20:10 UK Monty: Don't count me out Montgomerie came to grief on the 13th hole Colin Montgomerie was in a philosophical mood after losing his grip of the lead at The Open. The Scot fired a two-over par 73 to lie a stroke behind leaders David Duval, Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer and Alex Cejka going into the final round at Lytham. But Monty, who had a double-bogey on the par-four 13th, refused to be downhearted, inisting he could still break his Major duck. "To have a 73 and still be only one off the lead isn't as bad as it could have been. It's anybody's and it can still be mine," he said.
"My ambition was to be in contention on Sunday afternoon and it might be beneficial because I can start in a relaxed fashion now I'm not leading." Defending champion Tiger Woods will have to produce something stellar to get back into contention after a roller-coaster two-over-par 73. "It definitely wasn't my A-game, not even close to that," he said. "I just didn't hit the ball the way I needed to, especially off the tees." Langer, who carded a third-round 67 to move into a share of the lead, was close to pulling out of the championship with a back injury earlier in the week. But he made light of it on Saturday as he reeled off six birdies and two bogeys to finish the day at six-under 207. "It feels great to be in contention in the tournament I've always wanted to win," said the German, who finished second twice and third three times in The Open.
Countryman Cejka was understandably delighted after carding his third consecutive 69. The 31-year-old qualifier tied for 11th the last time the British Open was played at Lytham, in 1996, and played the final round with the-then amateur Woods. "I have good memories here from 1996 and I really like this course. I'm comfortable here and Lytham has treated me well," said Cejka. "I am playing very well too and I'm actually very confident." "If you have a run like I did today on the first 12 or 13 holes, then somebody who is three under can win." | |
  
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