Monty no match for Els fire
South Africa’s British Open champion, so often a hurdle Montgomerie has been unable to overcome in the past, achieved the lowest round in the history of the event when he posted a 12 under par 60.
That took him into lunch four up, even though Montgomerie had 10 birdies himself.
And after it Els dispatched Europe’s top points-scorer in the recent Ryder Cup by an emphatic 6&5 margin.
‘‘Monty brings out the best in me,’’ he said afterwards. ‘‘It’s happened quite often and I wanted to say that to him when we were done. But I don’t think it was the right time.’’
Chasing a fourth victory in the event, Els now has the chance to avenge his defeat to Vijay Singh in the 1997 final.
The other semi-final is between Sergio Garcia and New Zealander Michael Campbell.
Garcia came from four down after 16 to beat Ryder Cup team-mate Padraig Harrington 2&1, while Campbell eliminated both Nick Faldo and defending champion Ian Woosnam in the one day.
He and Faldo had been unable to finish the longest-ever match in the event on Thursday, but when they resumed on the 43rd - the seventh extra hole - Campbell birdied it and then went out 30 minutes later and defeated Woosnam 3&2.
Els’ 60 does not equal the European tour record because he did not have to hole everything - indeed he was conceded a 15-foot putt at one point.
But every putt he did make, and there were plenty, hurt Montgomerie more and revived the memories of the two US Opens Els won at the Scot’s expense and the 1994 Match Play final he took 4&2.
Els’ morning round was not totally flawless, but from the moment he struck a four-iron at the second to four feet his mind was clearly on the job rather than on 12-day-old baby son Ben.
He made a 40-footer for a half at the next, did not have the chance to putt from 15 feet for eagle at the long fourth because Montgomerie conceded and then, after the Scot birdied three of the next four to level, made a 20-footer on the ninth to turn in 30.
That was two outside the record front nine score set by Woosnam in last year’s final, but Els then equalled the best back nine by coming home in a seven-under 30.
Faldo, Ronan Rafferty and Harrington were the players he joined there thanks to birdies at the 10th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th and a genuine eagle on the 17th, where he struck a majestic three-wood to eight feet.
On the fringe in two at the last he knew what his 30-footer for yet another eagle meant.
‘‘I said to Ricci (his caddie Ricci Roberts) ‘this is for 59.’ It was a decent stroke, but I didn’t quite have the line and I hit it a little too firm.
‘‘Still, 60 isn’t bad!’’
Campbell has had to play 77 holes to make the last four, but to take out Faldo and Woosnam in one day left him more delighted than tired.
‘‘They’re the two elder statesmen. Faldo was an idol of mine and it’s nice to have his scalp and Woosie’s as well,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s been a long two days and my fitness has pulled me through. I’ve been working hard on it the last three or four years.
‘‘I’m quite confident. I’ve been playing some good quality golf.’’
Woosnam was four down after 15, but had not forgotten that he came back from three down with 12 to play to win last year’s final and took five of the next seven holes to lead.
That was what Campbell was fearing. ‘‘It was the Woosie of old and I thought ‘slow down, mate, and give me a chance here.’’’
Woosnam, unintentionally of course, duly obliged and did not win another hole.
He horse-shoed out from under three feet at the 29th to go behind again and although he chipped in for a birdie at the 34th, Campbell, three up by then, had pitched to three feet and made it to go through.
Woosnam commented: ‘‘It all went against me really - a rim-out on the 11th (29th) and then a horrendous lie on the fairway at the next at a vital time.
‘‘That was basically it really. I just couldn’t get it up and down when I needed to.’’
Harrington will not forget the long 17th in a hurry. He went out of bounds there once in his first round win over Mike Weir - and twice against Garcia.
The first of them yesterday was crucial. He was four-up at the time, but gifted a hole like that Garcia’s confidence was boosted.
He eagled the next to go into the break two down and then went to the turn in 30 to lead by two.
Garcia, no longer going out with tennis star Martina Hingis, increased his advantage to three with four to play and after Harrington birdied the next two he went out of bounds yet again and made another present of the hole.
Singh beat third seed Retief Goosen four and three, also coming from behind to make the last four.
Goosen led by two after four, but an eagle at the 18th sent the Fijian in level and he then had five successive birdies from the 20th to establish a grip he did not loosen.
Els won on his first three visits to the championship and Singh was the first player to beat him.
That could well be close, but Garcia will start a strong favourite against Campbell.
Singh said: ‘‘I was down early, but I wasn’t worried and the eagle on the 18th was big for me.
‘‘My shoulder is still bugging me a bit, but nothing to worry about.’’
Told about Els’ 60 he responded: ‘‘Lucky I wasn’t playing him then!’’
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