The intrigue surrounding the race to win The European Tour Order of Merit grew ever more fascinating at Club de Golf Valderrama as Colin Montgomerie’s double bogey at the notorious 17th created a scenario in which Michael Campbell must come from six shots behind the Scot to become Europe’s Number One.
Such a prospect is not as unlikely as it sounds. Sergio Garcia showed what was possible over Valderrama’s closing holes by engineering a six shot swing against playing partner Montgomerie between the 14th and 18th.
With three priceless birdies in the last four holes, as opposed to a Montgomerie bogey at the 14th and a double bogey seven at the 17th, the pair were tied at the top of the leaderboard on 203, ten under par, Garcia shooting 68 to the Scot’s 70. That unexpected twist in the tail at the end of the third round let in Campbell, The European Tour’s newest Honorary Life Member.
Campbell, awarded his Life Membership card on finishing his third round by European Tour Executive Director, George O’Grady, was not ready to run up a white flag after his 68 – and even less so after news filtered through to him of Montgomerie’s finish.
On four under par, the Kiwi is six behind Montgomerie, who led the Order of Merit race going into the final counting event of the season and only needs to finish no worse than tied with Campbell at the end of the tournament.
Montgomerie, joint leader with an opening 67 on Thursday and two ahead after following up with a 66, continued to look in total command as he covered all but the final five holes in four under par.
The plot began to unravel, however, when he bogeyed the 14th. Garcia birdied the next two and then Montgomerie, having laid up on the 536 yard next, hit into the water short of the green.
"I hit it a bit heavy unfortunately," he said afterwards. Garcia should have levelled there, but three-putted for a par five. A few minutes later, though, he hit his approach to three feet on the last and added another birdie for a 68 to Montgomerie's 70.
"I have a different agenda to 53 other guys and I am doing my job fine," stated Montgomerie in an obvious reference to the Order of Merit duel with Campbell.
"I am very proud of what I am doing. Scoring under par was a very good effort. As I said, this isn't easy and it's proving it. There's nothing wrong with my game. It's just that Sergio had a great finish."
Campbell reflected on an error-free 68 and his accolade from the Tour. He said: “This is a wonderful accomplishment for me. I have to thank The European Tour for making me the player I am. I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself and my golf game and definitely The European Tour made some huge contributions to my success so far.
“To win the Order of Merit would top off an unbelievable year. The last ten months have been great – surpassed my expectations. Being made an Honorary Member just caps it off. In the last 12 months I couldn’t break an egg and now I am in contention to win the Order of Merit. I’ve proved to a lot of the (European) guys that if Michael Campbell can win a Major playing here, surely they do the same sort of thing.
“I needed to go very low today and clearly Monty is playing fantastic golf. He’s shown the world again how really good he is, but I am not about to raise the white flag. Kiwis don’t surrender. Neither do the All Blacks. We don’t surrender until the fat lady sings!”
Garcia, who played an exquisite shot to three feet for a sixth birdie of the round on the 18th, admitted: “It was nice to hit some good shots coming in and put a bit of pressure on Monty and then he helped me a little bit with that double bogey on the 17th.
“It can happen to anybody. It’s that type of hole. Now it’s level going into the final round and so I know I am not going to be able just to shoot 70 or 71 and win this tournament unless the weather changes.”
Four players share third round on six under par: the trio of Englishmen, Paul Broadhurst (67), defending champion Ian Poulter (72) and Lee Westwood (67) who were joined on 207 by Ireland’s Paul McGinley, who signed for a six under par 65.