Golf: Campbell stays one ahead after closing birdie at K Club

DUBLIN – Michael Campbell will have to battle an overwhelming patriotic Irish golfing crowd to be assured of victory in the European Open.

Campbell birdied the last hole in a third round 70 on the K Club course, just south of Dublin, to remain one stroke clear of the trio of Ireland's Padraig Harrington, Scotland's Paul Lawrie and England's Barry Lane.

Campbell will start the closing round of the $US2m event at seven under par as he chases a first victory since winning last year's Heineken Classic in Australia.

New Zealand's top golfer kept his lead, albeit by one stroke, with four birdies and half as many birdies.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, with a third day 68, also elbowed himself into a winning frame, to finish at four under par and just three strokes behind Campbell.

Monty is desperate for a first victory anywhere in 11 months and after a horror second round 75, the champion Scot is confident of victory that would also see him return to the leading money earner in Europe for a first occasion in four years.

"I'm in with a shot and that's all I can do on Saturday, so that's my goal, whatever I shoot on Thursday and Friday," said Montgomerie.

"The whole goal is just to get in contention on Saturday night and that's all I can do."

Montgomerie recalled almost immediately he came from a biggest career deficit of five strokes behind to win the inaugural Scandinavian Masters in 1991, the second of currently 26 European Tour victories.

Harrington, the Number 12 ranked golfer in the World, has been one of the best European performers this season.

The 30-year-old, who grew up less than 30 minutes from the K Club course, performed superbly in the two majors this year, finishing fifth at the US Masters and eighth just recently in the US Open.

He is yet to win on home soil, and if the scenes at the 18th on day two when his eagle putt dropped, he can be guaranteed to have all of Ireland cheering him on to victory.

"This is a big title because I'm in Ireland but more because it's home, only a half an hour from where I grew up, so there's more to it than just the European Open," he said.

"The gallery is a spur to me and whilst there is extra pressure, and extra distractions, having two events in Ireland back to back liked we have had, has made me become more comfortable and this week is easier to handle than last week."

But Harrington knows he will have a contest on his hand dealing head on with Campbell in the last group over the final 18 holes.

"Michael and I are reasonably the same in our rankings and on the Order of Merit and I'm sure he's got the capabilities when he's hot," said Harrington.

"He's fabulous to watch when he's playing well and he has that Monty look about him when Monty was winning his seven Order of Merits.

"Michael does have the potential to win a major because when he gets in that flow he keeps going and looks awesome when he's in that sort of position."

But whilst Harrington looks to win his first Tour event on home soil and Monty strives to end his winless spell, Campbell is just as confident of sealing a fifth Tour win despite opening the door a little on his rivals after his third round 70.

"I feel I am very lucky that no one shot low today and that I am still leading because the course was there for the taking," said Campbell.

"Two under today was a good solid round and it's a nice position to be in, to be in with a chance of winning the tournament.

"It's a very classy leader board with Harrington and Montgomerie playing well but it will be Harrington who will be the crowd favourite to win, so that will be tough but then I am still playing well enough to win it."

Victory would send Campbell to Thursday's starting Scottish Open title chase in the best form possible especially with the British Open at Muirfield now just a fortnight away.

- NZPA