Murphy's Irish Open: Montgomerie eyeing Ryder Cup place

Colin Montgomerie has been presented with a golden chance to play his way into Europe’s Ryder Cup side.

Only 13th in the points race with just 12 events left to count, Montgomerie took a two-stroke lead into the third round of the Murphy’s Irish Open in Cork today.

And with Jose Maria Olazabal and Mathias Gronberg, respectively 10th and 11th on the table, missing the halfway cut, this really is a Fota opportunity at Fota Island.

Rounds of 63 - a course record - and 69 have put Montgomerie on 10 under par, with Londoner Anthony Wall on eight under and then Thomas Bjorn, Thomas Levet, Barry Lane and Fredrik Henge one stroke further back.

While he ought not to have to worry about receiving one of captain Sam Torrance’s two wild cards, Montgomerie knows the importance of climbing into the top 10 and earning an automatic place.

With Sergio Garcia, Jesper Parnevik, Bernhard Langer and Nick Faldo not in the side yet, the 38-year-old Scot can greatly boost Europe’s hopes of winning back the cup by booking his Belfry berth.

Even more than that, though, Montgomerie just wants to have the winning feeling again.

He did lift the Australian Masters in February, but his last European success was the Volvo PGA championship in May last year.

‘‘The third round is very important,’’ he said. ‘‘My goal is to stay two ahead. I don’t care what I score really. If I’m still two ahead I’ll be happy.’’

The world number nine is chasing the 30th victory of his career and his third Irish Open, having triumphed at Druids Glen in 1996 and 1997.

What is missing from the record, of course, is a Major and not having even been a contender going into the last round for over four years some people have been wondering whether he will ever be challenging Tiger Woods and the rest again on the biggest stage.

The next chance comes at Royal Lytham in three weeks, but Montgomerie also has the European and Scottish Opens before then.

Bjorn is his expected biggest threat this weekend, though the Dane has disappointed since beating Woods in Dubai in March.

He led at one point yesterday, but bogeyed two of his last three holes and allowed 26-year-old Wall to come through.

A winner in South Africa at the start of last season, Wall is part of a growing band of promising English players.

‘‘We don’t get as much credit as we should,’’ he said. ‘‘I think we are going to show what we can do over the next few years. There are probably seven or eight and at least half could be world-class.’’

The list could be made even longer. Attention lately has been on Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Paul Casey, but Warren Bennett, David Howell, Brian Davis, Steve Webster, amateurs Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty - and Wall himself, of course - have great potential.

Thankfully over the glandular fever which restricted him to just six events in his rookie season 1997, Wall is lapping up the atmosphere of the Irish Open and since his grandfather was from County Sligo he will be hoping for great support when he goes head-to-head with Montgomerie.

Lane is a former Ryder Cup player, but the 41-year-old has had a horror couple of years - not helped by a knee injury - and is currently 188th on the Order of Merit.

Henge is only 167th, but Levet is playing his first tournament since winning the British Masters at Woburn four years ago and appears to be still riding the crest of a wave.

‘‘My goal now is the Ryder Cup,’’ he said. ‘‘If it’s possible to win once, it’s possible twice and if I do it it would just about put me in the team.’’

He could move up to sixth just like Montgomerie.