The Latest: Monty set for lonely last round at British Open
TROON, Scotland (AP) The latest from the British Open (all times local):
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1:25 p.m.
Colin Montgomerie might play possibly his last round at a British Open all by himself.
The 53-year-old Scotsman dropped to last place of those playing this weekend after shooting 41 on the back nine into the wind for 8-over 79 in the third round Saturday. He is 12 over par for the week at Royal Troon, his home club and where his father was club secretary.
Montgomerie said he likely won't attempt to qualify for the Open again. He plays on the senior circuit now.
Jordan Spieth looked like making a run at the leaderboard after four birdies in his first seven holes got him back to even par, but he had three bogeys and a double-bogey on his last 10 holes for 1-over 72. Spieth is 15 shots behind second-round leader Phil Mickelson, who was two hours from teeing off.
Top-ranked Jason Day made four birdies to reach the turn in 32, and on 3 under.
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10:45 a.m.
Jordan Spieth is doing his best to get back in the mix at the British Open.
Spieth made the cut with no room to spare at Royal Troon and began the third round 14 shots behind Phil Mickelson. He made four birdies in seven holes to get back to even par before a bogey on the ninth to go out in 33.
He putted for eagle on three holes, including the par-4 seventh that was downwind. Spieth was about 10 yards short of the green.
Haydn Porteous also was 3 under for his round and at 1 over.
The leaders were still more than four hours from starting. The question is how much stronger the wind gets in the afternoon, and how long into the evening it blows.
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9:30 a.m.
The wind is strong and the greens are slower for the third round of the British Open.
Gusts already were approaching 20 mph (32 kph) when the third round began at Royal Troon, and they were expected to top 30 mph for most of the afternoon. That led the R&A to decide not to cut or roll the putting surfaces.
The wind and cool air was back to its prevailing direction, meaning the outward nine was playing downwind. And it showed. Jordan Spieth and Brandt Snedeker each made two birdies in three holes to start their rounds
The fun was to begin when they turned back into the wind on two of Troon's strongest holes, Nos. 10 and 11.
Phil Mickelson had a one-shot lead over Henrik Stenson. They were still some six hours from teeing off.