Daly edges ahead of Montgomerie

Colin Montgomerie will have to overturn a one-shot deficit to win his second tournament in seven days in the €6.1m American Express Championship.

Montgomerie held a one-stroke lead overnight as he looked to add a first strokeplay victory on American soil to his triumph in the Dunhill Links Championship last week at St Andrews.

But the 42-year-old Scot found himself overtaken at the top of the leaderboard by playing partner John Daly after a third round played out in blustery conditions at Harding Park.

Montgomerie carded a second consecutive 69 for an eight-under-par total of 202, one shot behind Daly, who fired a third straight 67.

Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods share third place on seven under after rounds of 67 and 68 respectively with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson continuing his excellent recent form on six under.

England’s David Howell, playing in the final group with Daly and Montgomerie, struggled to a 74 to drop back to two under.

Two birdies and one bogey – only his third dropped shot of the week – took Montgomerie to the turn in 34 but the formr European number one was unable to pick up any more shots as Daly recovered from a dreadful start in typical style.

The former Open champion had bogeyed the opening hole and double-bogeyed the third, but birdied the fourth and then drove the green on the par-four seventh to set up another birdie.

Two more massive blows set up an eagle on the par-five 10th and when Daly birdied the 14th and 16th – driving to the front edge of the green on the latter - he moved into the lead on nine under.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell had earlier looked like setting the early clubhouse target when he stood on the 18th tee at seven under par after a superb outward half of 30 and a birdie on the 17th.

But the 26-year-old then made a complete mess of the last, driving into heavy rough and failing to escape with his second shot. From there he hooked his third into the water left of the fairway and after a penalty drop missed the green with his fifth shot.

The former Walker Cup star eventually signed for a quadruple bogey eight and a round of 68 to finish three under par.

McDowell, who enjoyed two top 10s on the US Tour earlier this year but has struggled in Europe, said: “I played nicely but 18 kicked me in the butt a little bit. It’s a cruel game and I am pretty down right now.

“It’s a really tough hole. I would not say it was unfair but it’s out of character with the rest of the golf course which is all laid out in front of you. It’s a brutal golf hole.”