June31 Hansenfrench

Simon Khan battled hard during his third-round 70 at The French Open and is just one shot off the lead with just 18 holes left to play.

The gritty Englishman hit a 70, but could not fend off Denmark’s  Søren Hansen who shot a 66 around Le Golf National in Paris.

Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie and Germany’s Martin Kaymer are three strokes behind in third place, Thomas Björn, India’s Jeev Milkah Singh and England’s David Lynn are tied for fifth.

Hansen has only won once on the European Tour – back in 2002 at The Irish Open.

Hansen has has recently hired on the  former caddie of Lee Westwood. and it seems to be paying off. John Graham has had masses of experience and has served in the Ryder Cup.

Montgomerie, who has also changed caddies, is still in the hunt. He shot a level-par 71,  but looks a lot more like his old self.

He said: “I have to prove I haven’t forgotten how to win,” Montgomerie said, He hasn’t won in over 18 months.

He said: “t’s been a while, but I took three months off in 1996 and came out and won the Dubai Desert Classic with a shot I’ll always be proud of – a driver off the fairway to about ten feet at the last. Miguel Angel Jiménez said to me that day: ‘you never forget how to win’…and you don’t. tomorrow is a big day for me to go out and prove that I haven’t forgotten.”