Monty ready for Open mind games

Colin Montgomerie believes his hopes of Open championship glory are all in the mind.  

Montgomerie saw his overnight lead cut from three shots to one after a second-round 70 at Royal Lytham, Sweden's Pierre Fulke his nearest challenger on six under following a flawless 67.

But the Scot believes he has the mental strength to hold on over the next two days for victory.

Tom Weiskopf is the only player to have held the outright lead after every round of the Open championship since Henry Cotton achieved the feat 67 years ago.

And Montgomerie will have to hold off the challenge of a rejuvenated Fulke, and twice runner-up Jesper Parnevik amongst others, with defending champion Tiger Woods ominously poised just four shots back.

"The mental factor comes into it 99per cent from now on," said the 38-year-old Scot.

"If you're not mentally right there is no point taking out any club. Mental strength is what it's all about now. I'm quite comfortable in that department at this phase in my career.

"I've only led once from start to finish and it is tiring. You don't realise it at the time but the following week when you're playing you realise how tiring it is.

"It is easier, I suppose, to come from behind without that same pressure, but at the same time I'd rather be ahead than one or two behind."

Montgomerie will be paired with Fulke in the last group today.

Greg Owen and Parnevik form the penultimate group after their matching 68s, with the Swede looking to go one better than 1994 and 1997 when he finished runner-up behind Nick Price and Justin Leonard respectively.