Monty tames gusty Valderrama

The sunshine was jolly nice, thank you for asking, on the Costa del Sol yesterday but for those required actually to be playing golf in the blustery wind it was more hard graft than fun. Valderrama is as tough a challenge as can be found on the European Tour but on the days when the Poniente wind gusts, grit and determination are the chief virtues required.

The Volvo Masters, the finale to the season, was born here and on its return for the first time in six years memories of the horrendous scoring that used to be a feature of the event have been once again realised. Twelve players, out of the 65 still competing, started the day under par but only three remained in red figures after the third round.

"This is proper golf," said Colin Montgomerie. "Every shot is a challenge. Every shot is a potential disaster. We should play more courses like this. Courses where you have to shoot 26 under is not proper golf. I enjoy this more."

Montgomerie will today attempt to win his first tournament for over 15 months. Having won the Volvo Masters in 1993, he would become the first player to win it twice. Montgomerie will go out in the final group with Bradley Dredge, whom he trails by one. "Of course, this is exactly where I want to be," Monty said. "Last group, I like that. But there is still a long way to go. It is not cut and dried."

Dredge is a 29-year-old Welshman who has yet to win on tour but has turned in a number of top-10 finishes this season. His level-par 71, to remain at three under, propelled him into the lead on his own as Montgomerie had a 72 and Angel Cabrera, who was ahead by seven strokes during the second round, scored a 76 to share second place.

Justin Rose had a seven at the 10th in a 73 but remains at level par, while Bernhard Langer and Sergio Garcia are at one over. Garcia had a nine at the par-five fourth which included two penalty shots, one when his ball moved while he was clearing acorns from nearby and the other for going in the water with his fourth.

"This course is different to anything I have ever played before," Dredge said. "The most difficult aspect is the greens with the wind because they are so undulating."

Dredge found out exactly how difficult when he four-putted at the 14th when he put his approach at the back of the green, 60 feet above the hole. He had a tier to come down and it was only a marginal misjudgement of pace and line that led to his putting off the green. "It was a bit embarrassing," he said. He took three more putts to get down. "At least I got closer with every putt."

It will be the first time Dredge has played in the final group and Montgomerie will be his partner. "I am really looking forward to it. I'll have to put the blinkers on. That is what players like Monty have learnt to do."

Among the disasters, Lee Westwood had an 81 – only Soren Hansen's 82 was higher – while Darren Clarke holed in one at the 211-yard 15th with a five-iron. Unfortunately, the car behind the tee had a sign on it saying it was not a prize for holing in one. Clarke then took double- bogeys at the last two holes for a 75.

Meanwhile, the race for the No 1 on the Order of Merit has virtually ground to a halt. For both Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington this appears to be one tournament too many as they stagger towards the finishing line. Harrington, who trails the South African by €14,500, finally managed to overtake Goosen but both are so far down the leaderboard that it might not do the Irishman any good.

Harrington started the day in 48th position and a round of 74 left him at 11 over par in 47th position. With the wind increasing further throughout the afternoon, he then rose to 43rd. Goosen, however, scored 78 to be 12 over and in 47th place. Somehow Harrington must get into at least the top 20 tonight to stand any sort of chance. If the wind blows again, as per the forecast, anything could still happen.

Goosen must remain the favourite, even though he is possibly even more depressed about his game than the Irishman. It was only when Harrington won the Dunhill Links last month that he had a chance of toppling Goosen, who won the Vardon Trophy last year.

"It's more possible now than before the Dunhill," Harrington said. "I need to improve substantially tomorrow. I hit a few ropey shots out there, although the course was tough. On today's form I wouldn't say I am putting or playing well enough to do it but it might be different tomorrow, I hope. "

Goosen said: "It is disappointing to play so badly in the last event of the season. I really didn't do anything well today. We will have to see what happens tomorrow. If Padraig beats me, I'll tip my hat and say 'well done'. If I do it, then I'll consider myself lucky to win it."