Fluctuating day produces massed leaderboard at British Open

No fewer than 19 players were within two shots of the lead at the end of an enthralling third round of the British Open on Saturday.

German duo Bernhard Langer and Alex Cejka, American David Duval and rejuvenated Briton Ian Woosnam were the unlikely quartet who emerged at the head of the pack on six-under-par after a thrilling day of fluctuating fortunes at Lytham.

Overnight leader Colin Montgomerie was one of nine players a shot behind, but defending champion and world number one Tiger Woods was five off the pace after an error-strewn two-over-par 73.

Montgomerie, who ended Friday six-under-par and a shot ahead of Swede Pierre Fulke, dropped back to five-under at the halfway mark as seemingly half the field swept past him.

The leaderboard operators were the busiest people on the course as they frantically tried to keep up with the ever-changing situation.

Duval was the first to make a move after starting the day at level-par and ending it on six-under following his 65 that matched the best round of the week.

The world number seven had adjusted his putter shortly before teeing off and reaped the benefit as he took only 25 putts en route to seven birdies and one bogey.

"I've got myself back into it and that's where I wanted to be," he said.

THREE BIRDIES

Woosnam also had his putter to thank as his long-handled version put him top of the tournament statistics on the greens and earned him three birdies and an eagle on Saturday.

"I'm in love with golf again," he said, following comments earlier this month that he was bored with the sport.

Another former Masters champion enjoying himself in his 24th Open was Langer, who was unsure he would even participate in the event four days ago because of a back injury.

"It feels great to be in contention in the tournament I've always wanted to win," said Langer, who shot a 67 to match his playing partner Woosnam.

Cejka, who came through qualifying, twice reached nine-under but three successive bogeys over the closing holes dragged him back into the pack and he ended with his third straight 69.

Montgomerie had hit the front on the back of some good putting, but his touch deserted him on Saturday as he twice missed from within four feet to drop shots and also watched two birdie putts lip-out on the front nine.

He finally collected back-to-back birdies on 10 and 11 but lost both shots with a double-bogey six two holes later and could make no further ground on the tough run-in to end with a two-over 73.

"To have a 73 and still be only one off the lead means I'm still in it," he said. "It's anybody's."

WRETCHED DAY

Woods had a wretched day as his driving was again all over the place, and this time he didn't get away with it.

He did sink some long putts to bag three early birdies and reach five-under, but after a bogey on five it all went wrong on the seventh when he ended up in a bush and carded a double-bogey seven.

He then three-putted from 12 feet on the 14th and dropped another shot on the last after a wild drive cost him a penalty drop.

"It definitely wasn't my A-game, not even close to that," he said. "There are a lot of players between myself and the lead and it's going to be quite a test tomorrow."

After a double-bogey on the eighth, Jesper Parnevik launched his charge with four successive birdies on the next four holes to hit the front on seven-under.

The Swede drove the green on the 359-yard 16th -- then three-putted for a par -- and dropped back with a second double bogey on 17 for a level 71.

Briton Greg Owen briefly reached seven-under after holing out for a two at the par-five 11th -- the second albatross of the tournament.

The man who said his spine was tingling at the idea of "going out with the big guns" held his nerve after dropping three shots over the first four holes, but ended with three successive bogeys for a 72 and a four-under-par aggregate total.

Several other notable players were within striking distance ahead of Sunday's final round.

Spain's Miguel Jimenez, Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke and former Open champion Nick Price finished on five-under-par, while Spaniard Sergio Garcia and South Africans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, last month's U.S. Open winner, were in the group at four-under.