US Open: Montgomerie's dream turns into nightmare

Colin Montgomerie's dreams of a first Major title ended after a nightmare third round at the US Open in Tulsa.

But Tiger Woods still believes he is in with a chance despite being nine shots adrift after a third round 69.

Retief Goosen of South Africa and American Stewart Cink hold the lead on five under.

Montgomerie crashed from 11th place at the start of the day to 53rd with a disastrous 77 to finish 13 strokes behind on eight-over-par.

Montgomerie's woes started with a double-bogey six at the second and he followed that by dropping further strokes on the fourth, seventh and ninth for an outward 40.

His second double-bogey came at the 456-yard 12th and after that it became purely an exercise in professional pride - and, of course, Ryder Cup points.

Goosen and Cink go into the last day one ahead of Sergio Garcia, Mark Brooks and Rocco Mediate.

Phil Mickelson is a further stroke back, but then comes a three-shot gap to Paul Azinger and David Duval.

Meanwhile, the fireworks Montgomerie had predicted from Woods failed to arrive in sufficient quantity to unnerve the leaders.