Monty is in sweet form as he eyes Open glory

COLIN MONTGOMERIE finished second in the Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl in

2014 and third 12 months later.

But he is experiencing a feel-good factor that it may be his time to win an Open on home soil at the age of 59 after he produced a sensational finish at Gleneagles yesterday to soar into contention with a thirdround 68, rounded off with three consecutive birdies.

That left him three shots adrift of leading pair Paul Broadhurst — the 2016 champion — and Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who birdied the last for 69 to tie the Englishman on nine under par following Broadhurst’s 66.

And Monty amazingly put his success down to a newlydiscovered passion for jelly babies.

Even by his habit of producing the unexpected, Monty’s latest approach to winning takes a bit of beating.

According to the 59-year-old Scot, it was sweet power rather than putting prowess that got the job done.

He explained: ‘My caddie and I were talking to Padraig Harrington about jelly babies and we decided to eat them on the back nine, as they’re the best food for everything, apparently.

‘I thought Padraig has won a few majors, so we decided we would do the jelly baby trick today. And, wow, the jelly babies worked. So I’m now heading into Auchterarder to buy a load of jelly babies to keep us going for tomorrow because the weather is going to be iffy.

‘I avoid the darker ones. I like the reds, the yellows and the orange ones. One each; one birdie for each of the last three holes, perfect.’

Clarke, who has expressed a desire to display a set of matching Claret Jugs on his sideboard following his Open triumph at Sandwich in 2011, did not enjoy the best of days until he reached the 18th requiring a birdie to tie Broadhurst.

Indeed, he was almost lost for words after a succession of putts on the rain-sodden King’s Course had stayed out.

‘I don’t know what I’d have said after playing nicely all day and given myself chance after chance with good putts, but at least one decided to go in at the last,’ said Clarke.

‘I was really pleased with the way I played. I played away from quite a few flags but still gave myself enough opportunities.’

RICHIE RAMSAY is one shot off the lead at the Cazoo Classic after shooting a five-under 67.

The Scot trails leader Julien Guerrier, who fired a threeunder 69. Grant Forrest remains in contention after a

71, two shots off the lead, while Robert MacIntyre is two shots further back on eight under.