Colin Montgomerie plots own downfall

Published on Thursday 27 January 2011 17:36

COLIN Montgomerie came a cropper on his own course in Bahrain yesterday as he squandered a chance to get off to a decent start in the inaugural Volvo Champions Trophy.

The Scot had to settle for a level-par 72 - eight shots behind leader Johan Edfors - after running up a triple-bogey 7 at the 408-yard fifth, his 14th hole after starting at the tenth.

Montgomerie, who suffered the ignominy of seeing his ball end up virtually back at his feet after failing to clear a thick clump of grass, went from the desert into a hazard as he spoilt a round that also included five birdies.

On a day when the morning starters enjoyed the best of the conditions at the Royal Golf Club, Paul Lawrie produced the best effort amongst the six Scots in an elite field. The former Open champion signed for a four-under 68 to sit in a tie for 14th at the end of the opening round. "A nice little round," said Lawrie of his day's work.

"I played very solid and holed a few 10-footers for par to keep it going. It was much hotter today and almost sticky at times." Stephen Gallacher got it to three-under at one point before his only blemish of the day, a bogey at the last, left him having to settle for a 70. Gary Orr, playing on a medical exemption, had a 71, while Richie Ramsay matched Montgomerie's 72. But Marc Warren, who received a sponsor's invite for the event, could only manage a 74. He was three-under after ten holes, but as well as two bogeys ran up a triple-bogey 6 at the short seventh - his 16th.

Newly-wed Edfors leads by two after his eight-under round. Compatriot Peter Hanson, his Ryder Cup team-mate Francesco Molinari, England's Graeme Storm and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal share second place. Sergio Garcia is just one further back after a bogey-free start to his season and Paul Casey - the highest-ranked player in the field at ninth in the world - also shot 67.

A week after his disqualification in Abu Dhabi, Padraig Harrington said he "struggled big time" for a 70, while Ian Poulter is in danger of a second successive missed cut following a 72.

Edfors, married last month, won three times in 2006, but has failed to add to his tally in more than 100 European Tour events since then.

However, he took advantage of the calmer early conditions with nine birdies, his only mistake coming on the short 16th.

After establishing the record mark for the new Tour venue, he said: "My iron play was really superb and I had a bunch of chances from around 15 feet."

The undulating greens have come in for lots of comments, but Tour officials by and large went easy on the players with the pin positions and the speed of the surfaces.

Garcia commented: "It's a shame it's so hilly because you can't get them faster, but it was definitely a positive start to the year for me." The former world No 2 has slumped to 80th in the rankings and nobody should get carried away by his round, least of all him. Twelve months ago he opened 66-67 in Abu Dhabi and did not have a top-three finish all year.

Harrington, meanwhile, commented: "I just struggled to focus, but limited the damage as much as I could."