LOCH LOMOND // After three days, 54 holes and a veritable smorgasbord of British summer weather, encompassing rain, wind and sun, we are no closer to identifying a winner of this claustrophobic Barclays Scottish Open. It is said that you cannot win a golf tournament on the third day, but you can certainly lose it. On a sluggish third day of this tournament, nobody appeared ready to win or lose.
England's Simon Khan and the Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell lead on 10 under, but there are over a dozen men ready to take them down. Khan hit a 68 and will qualify for the Open at Royal Birkdale if he finishes in the top five. McDowell shot a 66 and could secure his place in the Ryder Cup with victory. But he is steeling himself for a frantic scramble. "The field is really bunched. There were only seven shots separating the cut mark from the leader yesterday, and there must be at least 10 or 12 players who have a chance in the final round," conceded McDowell.
The former US Open champion Angel Cabrera began his third round as leader at nine under, but he unravelled with two triple bogeys at the 12th and the 17th, and another bogey on 18 that saw him drop to two under. After posting a 78, his hopes of walking away the winner at Loch Lomond appear to be over. Ross Fisher, winner of last week's European Open, Jeev Milkha Singh, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Richard Green are all berthed on eight under and will fancy their chances today.
Adam Scott and Ian Poulter enjoyed 68s and are seven under. The former British Open champion Paul Lawrie is six under, with the Dubai-based Henrik Stenson in touch at five. Two other notable names, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, began the day on four under and played together, but both made little progress up the leaderboard. Els shot 70 to move to five under, while Mickelson hit a level-par 71 to remain at four under.
They could still threaten though if they manage to shoot somewhere in the 60s today. But such major competitors may also be aware that nobody who has lifted the Scottish Open has progressed to win the British Open a week later. dkane@thenational.ae