Levet enjoying elevated position now

After starting the week with a hole-in-one, France's Thomas Levet now has his

sights on finishing the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles tomorrow as

number one.

The former Ryder Cup player went into the third round as joint leader with

England's Simon Wakefield and has high hopes of ending a barren spell that goes

back to the 2004 Scottish Open.

Much has happened to the 38-year-old since that Loch Lomond victory.

Levet was fifth in the Open the following week, made his Ryder Cup debut two

months later and then joined the US Tour. Life could not get much better.

But it did not go on like that. First his game went and then last year he

started suffering vertigo so badly that he was forced to give up golf and feared

he might never be able to return to it.

Eventually some medication was found that helped the situation.

"I stopped taking it at Christmas - it was a good present," he said.

"In 2006 I could hardly stand up, so in my mind I go from 2005 to 2007. Last

year does not exist."

Deciding to focus his attention on Europe again, Levet finally felt well enough

to return in May and, having relied on his career earnings to keep his card last

year, his target was clear and simple.

"My goal was to have a job for next year," he stated. "To have a card for

anywhere - European Tour, the PGA Tour, anywhere.

"But when I started back I felt comfortable. Now my goal is to be get back in

the Ryder Cup next year."

Qualifying starts next week and Levet, third in Holland last week and now top

of a leaderboard again, added: "It's going according to plan. I was just

waiting for my putting to show up and last week it did.

"It was 2004 when I played my best golf by far, but the last two weeks I am

reaching that level again. In 2004 even my bad days were decent, but at the

moment my bad days are still bad."

Joint halfway pacesetter Wakefield has yet to taste victory in Europe, but he

was third at the Irish Open in May and on sharing top spot said: "It's what we

practise for.

"Pressure comes with the job. If you don't handle it well you don't earn any

money. You've got to learn to handle it well."

The 33-year-old from Staffordshire, coached by the father of fellow tour player

Mark Pilkington, was more fearful of today's third round than he is of the

closing 18 holes, when the pressure should be at its most intense.

"For some reason Saturday is always the day that I don't enjoy. It's moving

day, but I tend to move the other way," he added.

"It's not that I dislike them, I think it's the hardest day. You've made the

cut and you suddenly relax and don't try too hard."

In third place only one behind is Scot Marc Warren, last season's Rookie of the

Year, while defending champion Paul Casey is five behind, Colin Montgomerie and

Lee Westwood six back and Darren Clarke seven adrift.

Montgomerie and Clarke have had a difference of opinion this week over the

choice of the Centenary Course for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Clarke reckons there are two better lay-outs at Gleneagles - the King's and the

Queen's - and finds the decision "inexplicable".

But Montgomerie's response was not surprising given that he is the championship

chairman.

"People are entitled to their opinion and that's his. But my opinion is

different," he said.

"It will be a fantastic venue. We have another seven years here and the course

is getting better every year.

"As a venue and a resort there are very few better, the location and the hotel

are world-class."

The hole which has received most criticism on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course

is the long 18th, uphill all the way and a real slog.

On that even Montgomerie says "it's not a great finish," and given that he

may be captain in 2014 do not be surprised if it is changed.