Gary Orr and Colin Montgomerie, team mates for Scotland in the Alfred Dunhill Cup two years ago, will be fierce rivals in the fourth round of the Victor Chandler British Masters at sun-drenched Woburn. Orr, one ahead at halfway, stretched his lead to two shots over Montgomerie with a four under par 68 for a 19 under par total of 197 while Europe’s seven-time No.1 fired a 66 to declare his intention of regaining the title he won in 1998.
The ‘Tartan Takeover’ at the top of the leaderboard followed a superb third day over the Duke’s Course, in which Montgomerie hit back after an indifferent 69 on Friday. Orr, though, stayed cool in the baking conditions to take a two shot lead over the tournament favourite.
Montgomerie, the experienced campaigner with 24 European Tour titles, now believes he ought to prevail against Orr, who claimed his maiden victory in the Algarve Portuguese Open earlier this year.
“Do I expect to win from two behind?” said Montgomerie rhetorically after being fired the loaded question. “Should I? Yes, of course I should! With my experience, and the way I’m hitting the ball – yes.”
Orr, a near neighbour of Montgomerie in their adopted home county of Surrey, felt moved to concur with his principal rival for the silverware. Orr commented: “He (Montgomerie) should think that way. He’s won so many titles and he’s used to winning. But if I can play well and shoot a good score then we’ll see what he does.”
Or admitted he felt it was difficult to follow up his course record 62 from the previous day and played some "scrappy” golf on the front nine before covering the inward half in four under par with two magnificent birdies.
At the 14th he manufactured a remarkable pitch and run with a four iron from trees, 160 yards onto the green and within three feet of the hole for a birdie three. At the last he played a provisional ball after a cut tee shot, but located his ball, hacked out and hit a three iron from 206 yards to ten feet.
“More luck then judgement” he said self-deprecatingly. “ I am playing well but sometimes you need wee bits of good fortune. When you’re under a tree it’s a bit of hit and hope.”
Montgomerie, meanwhile, admitted that he needed this type of competition to sharpen his game before the last major of the season, the US PGA Championship at Valhalla. He said: “I’m glad to be in this position. I wanted this. I came here for this and to get some competition and it’s perfect. I’m delighted with my position, although I left two eagle putts short at the last two holes and I was disappointed with that.”
Mark McNulty, second overnight, dropped back to third after making one bad mistake at the 16th which cost him a double bogey six in a round of 71 for a 15 under par total of 201.
Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Open champion, moved into a four way tie for fourth place with Jarrod Moseley, Ian Garbutt and Per-Ulrik Johansson thanks to a best of the day 64 containing eight birdies and non bogeys.
It was a welcome return to form for the Scot, who explained: “The putting was the problem. In the Open my putting was horrific. I had never putted as badly before. But I’ve got the putting stroke back this week after taking less time over the ball. I was taking ten seconds once my putter was behind the ball Now I take five seconds and just hit it.”
The sensational weather resulted in healthy crowds attending Woburn on the third day, with 10,095 fans streaming through the gates, lifting the overall attendance to 26,535 – an increase on 1999.
