Great start sends Casey clear

Paul Casey went from one ahead to four clear with a sparkling start to the final round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today.

The 28-year-old Englishman birdied the opening three holes while Colin Montgomerie, who had been four clear at one point yesterday, bogeyed the first, birdied the par-five second and then had to make a 12-foot par putt on the next just to stay second on his own.

Casey, winner of the title in 2001, stood 18 under par, with Montgomerie 14 under and Dane Thomas Bjorn and Australian Brett Rumford 13 under.