Scottish galleries have never really warmed to Nick Faldo. They may have admired his golf, but as far as sentiment went, forget it. Faldo was always perceived as too arrogant, too aloof, too self-centered to be truly taken to heart.

But the Scots love an underdog, and these past three years Faldo has definitely fitted into that category. That is why galleries at the Loch Lomond Invitational were cheering him on loudly yesterday.

For example, there were whistles of support for Faldo as he stepped on to the par-three 11th green after hitting a glorious three-iron 220 yards to six feet from the flag. The cheers became even louder when the Englishman drained the birdie putt.

For Faldo that was the shot of the day. "I hit a great shot there - just busted a three-iron to six feet."

It helped Faldo shoot a one-under-par 70 in blustery conditions that made scoring difficult. It put him just one stroke off the lead held jointly by the Americans Notah Begay and Tom Lehman, and Ernie Els on eight under par.

Retief Goosen and the defending champion Colin Montgomerie are also on seven under par along with Faldo.

If Faldo wins today it will end a winless streak of three years stretching back to the 1997 Los Angeles Open. It is not too long ago that the thought of Faldo without a win in three years was unimaginable.

Even more unbelievable is that if Faldo wins it will be his first victory on the European tour since the 1994 Alfred Dunhill Open, in Belgium, when he defeated Sweden's Joakim Haeggman in a play-off. This from a man who between 1987 and 1992 won five major championships and was an automatic favourite in every tournament he entered.

Despite not being in this position for some time, Faldo felt comfortable. In fact, he said he expected to win this season. "I feel confident a win's going to come somewhere this season, and I've got a chance tomorrow," he said. "So it will be worth going for just to see what happens.

"I've got a great chance. I've just got to put my head down and put the blinkers on and shoot a score. Be aggressive and try to squeeze some putts in."

Although he is now 42 years old, Faldo says he is in the best shape he has been in for years. He puts a new physical fitness regime down to the influence of Tiger Woods. "I've been trying to kill myself on the treadmill at home. I've been watching Tiger and a few of the exercises he's been doing.

"When you get to the dreaded 40-plus you've got to work harder. These younger guys, again because of Tiger, are all in the gym working out. And it makes a difference physically and mentally. Because if you're physically strong you're mentally strong."

Faldo acknowledged the gallery's support. He feels just about everybody at Loch Lomond is willing him on to victory.

"The support has been fantastic. Everyone's been great. I came into the car park last night and there were half-a-dozen guys saying `go and do it'. Everybody's behind me, which is great."

As for his own chances today, Montgomerie said his tournament had gone exactly to plan. "I've got a chance," he said. "I was three shots behind going into the last round last year and I won. Although the field is stronger this year, I feel I'm playing well enough to win. So I've got myself into position.

"That's all I ever do - try to get myself into position so that I can win on the last day. The job's done so far. Now I've got to go out and do it tomorrow."

So does Faldo, and despite Montgomerie's nationality, the crowds on the bonnie, bonnie banks might just be rooting for a sasanach today.

Greg Norman confirmed yesterday that he would be unable to compete in next week's British Open at St Andrews. The 45-year-old Australian, winner in 1986 and 1993, underwent hip surgery recently and said then that he did not expect to play. Spain's Miguel Angel Martin has also pulled out after a buggy accident at Scotscraig this week.