David Duval is mounting a serious challenge by joining the overnight leader Colin Montgomerie on the third day of the Open at Royal Lytham. What is more, his inspired play is rubbing off on his playing partner and 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie.
Both Lawrie and Duval started the day on level par but by the time they reached the 14th, they were four and seven-under respectively.
The world number seven collected three birdies on the front nine to go out in 32. He then added another at the 10th after spinning an approach wedge to within two feet and holed for his fourth birdie.
Duval then added another at the 11th and picked up two more at the 12th and 13th.
Lawrie was out in 33, one more because of a dropped shot at the eighth, but he too started the back nine with a birdie at the 10th ans also added another at thw 13th.
Ernie Els, playing in the group behind, also got four-under with an outward half in 32 and another birdie at 13.
Paul McGinley has had a mixed bag thus far. The Dubliner birdied the first then bogied the third and fourth, but got back on level terms by holing a birdie putt of at least 30 feet at the fifth.
Padraig Harrington did not make the start he was looking for. He bogeyed the second to drop back to level par overall.
The glamour group of Michael Campbell and Jose Maria Olazabal made no progress today. Campbell shot a level par 71 to remain one-over while Olazabal dropped to three-over with a 73. Meanwhile the highs and lows of Thomas Levet ended with a 77 and the Frenchman is now eight-over.