DUBLIN, Ireland, July 6 (UPI) -- Michael Campbell maintained his one-shot lead Saturday after the third round of the Smurfit European Open, but Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam moved into contention at the K Club near Dublin.
Campbell, of New Zealand, carded a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday and is 7-under for a one-stroke lead over Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Scotland's Paul Lawrie.
Scotland's Montgomerie shot a 68 to climb to 4-under, while Woosnam of Wales, who tied for second last year, fired a 67 and is one of seven players tied for eighth at 2-under. Sweden's Joakim Haeggman is tied for fourth with Montgomerie.
Montgomerie was delighted by his score - seven better than his Friday effort - but said, "I've got to get my driving sorted out if I want to win (Sunday). I'm pulling it left. I've no idea why and if anybody has get any ideas I'll talk to them."
Normally Montgomerie would work on it on the driving range, but because of his recent back troubles he said, "I can't practice physically. I feel knackered. A round of golf takes a huge amount out of me at the moment. But it's good fun being in contention again, though."
Woosnam might not play all four rounds of the Barclays Scottish Open next week -- which is the final tuneup for the Bitish Open --due to a poor weather forecast.
"I've heard it's really wet like last year and when the ground's spongy I get backache," Woosnam said. "I'll travel and give it a go, but it's not going to be ideal preparation for the Open by the sound of it and I'll make a decision at some point."
Woosnam has good reason to look ahead to the Open, having finished eighth and fifth at Muirfield in 1987 and 1992 and tying for third in the championship last year. Last year Woosnam received a two-shot penalty in the final round, when his caddie at the time had left an extra driver in the bag and discovered it only after he had birdied the first.
"It's only two guys who keep reminding me of it," he told reporters. "I've forgotten about it." Woosnam will find himself talking about it some more, though, because his autobiography is being released on Monday.
Montgomerie almost made a 100-foot eagle attempt, but the tap-in was his fifth birdie as well and his only mistake was to bogey the 11th hole.
Defending champion Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland had his hopes of a successful defense of the title effectively ended with a 76 that contained six successive bogeys from the second hole.
A home winner for the second year is still a live possibility, though, as Harrington, who tied for second last year, went to the turn in 34 and was just one shot off that pace on the back nine.
Barry Lane of England carded a 71 for the second straight day and is alone at 5-under.
