Colin Montgomerie walked onto the last green sharing the lead at the Johnnie Walker Classic today and walked off it trailing.
The good news for the Scot was that, unlike last Sunday at the United States Open, there is still a round to come at Gleneagles.
The bad, however, was that Montgomerie was not sure he has the reserves of energy - or the power required on this particular course - to overhaul new leader Paul Casey.
After trailing by five shots eight holes into the third round Casey birdied the long ninth and then came home in a brilliant five under par 32 for a best-of-the-day 66 and a one-stroke lead over his Ryder Cup team-mate.
They stand 15 under and 14 under respectively, with Danes Thomas Bjorn and Soren Hansen and also Australian Brett Rumford two strokes further back.
After everything he put into last week's major, the anguish he suffered by double-bogeying the last hole to lose by one and, of course, any lingering jetlag it was no surprise that Montgomerie admitted to flagging.
He still managed a four-under-par 69 and, with a record as good as his and the backing of a home crowd, he might still win. But the way he spoke afterwards it will be against the odds.
A closing birdie took Paul Casey past the Johnnie Walker Championship leader Colin Montgomerie in the third round on Saturday.
Montgomerie, two shots ahead of his playing partner overnight, established an early four-stroke before Casey, winner of the event in 2001, struck back over the back nine.
A seven-under-par 66 by Casey took him to 15-under-par 204, a stroke better than Montgomerie who carded a 69.
Danes Thomas Bjorn, the first round leader (67), and Soren Hansen (68) plus Australian Brett Rumford (67) share third place, three strokes behind Casey.
On the par-five 18th, Casey took two putts from 30 feet to edge ahead of Montgomerie, who, unlike his opponent, was unable to hit the green in two and could manage a par only.
"Colin started brilliantly and I made mistakes on the opening holes," said Casey. "I just knew I had to battle back.
"I do enjoy chasing and that's what I did. Length did work in my favour and the two birdies at the end made the difference in being in the lead or not."
Montgomerie, six days after his US Open bid failed on the last hole at Winged Foot, blamed fatigue and Casey's greater length for relinquishing his lead.
"Paul was hitting 50 yards longer and his length ensured he could get to 16 and 18 while I couldn't," said the Scot. "I'm very, very tired."
