Smyth hits two bogeys to tie for third

Des Smyth was in trouble off the tee at the long 17th and after missing the green with his third he bogeyed to drop back to three under.

However, Els bogeyed the 14th at virtually the same time.

Montgomerie finished with a bogey and his 84 after his 64 equalled the biggest variation in two rounds by any player in Open history.

He had the dubious distinction of joining RG French in 1938 at Sandwich. He shot 71-91.

Smyth also bogeyed the last, missing from only four feet, and with Els grabbing a birdie at the short 16th the Irish hero was two back and now only joint third as Hansen birdied the 17th to restrict Els to a one-shot lead.

British Open Leaderboard - third round

4 under - Ernie Els (Rsa) (52)

3 under - Soren Hansen (Den) (54)

2 under - Justin Leonard (USA) (54)

Justin Rose (54)

Sergio Garcia (Spa) (54)

Scott McCarron (USA) (54)

Thomas Bjorn (Den) (54)

Des Smyth (54)

Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) (50)

1 under - Steve Elkington (Aus) (54)

Peter Lonard (Aus) (54)

Thomas Levet (Fra) (53)

Selected others:

Even - David Duval (USA) (54)

Ian Garbutt (54)

Retief Goosen (Rsa) (54)

Nick Price (Zim) (54)

Carl Pettersson (Swe) (54)

Padraig Harrington (50)

1 over - Jesper Parnevik (Swe) (54)

3 over - Darren Clarke (54)

4 over - Ian Woosnam (54)

5 over - Nick Faldo (54)

6 over - Tiger Woods (USA) (54)

7 over - Phil Mickelson (USA) (54)

9 over - Colin Montgomerie (54)