Monty's in prime form
Colin Montgomerie made an amazing return today to St Andrews, the course on which he finished runner-up to Tiger Woods at the Open in July.
Montgomerie, staying in the same room overlooking the Home of Golf which he used two months ago, defied gusts of nearly 35mph to cover the first six holes in a spectacular six under par – and led the £2.7m (€4m) Dunhill links championship.
The 42-year-old Scot, seeking a win which would put him in with a real chance of capturing an eighth European Order of Merit title, had opened the celebrity pro-am with a two under 70 at Carnoustie yesterday.
That left him three behind David Howell, American Rich Beem and Italian Alessandro Tadini, but after birdies at the first three holes Montgomerie, partnered by Hollywood star Michael Douglas, eagled the 568-yard fifth and then added another birdie on the next.
One behind was Northumberland’s Kenneth Ferrie, who pushed Montgomerie into second place at the European Open in July, and Italian Francesco Molinari.
Ferrie, whose partner was Olympic gold medallist Jonathan Edwards, was among the late starters at Carnoustie and had a hat-trick of birdies starting at the 11th, his second, to reach seven under.
Molinari, partnered by brother Edoardo, winner of the American amateur championship a month ago, was playing his second round at Kingsbarns and after a bogey at the short second he eagled the next and then picked up three birdies to turn in a four under 32.
Londoner Brian Davis stood fourth at six under with six holes to go at St Andrews.
Davis is back from America for his first appearance in Europe since July and has more than golf on his mind at the moment.
“It’s been a bit hectic because we have another baby due in seven weeks and we’re also trying to move into a new home,” said the Londoner, whose wife Julie is the daughter of former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence.
His one complaint after his 68 at Carnoustie yesterday was how cold he felt.
“I’ve been wearing shorts for the last six weeks, so it was a bit of a shock. But I love playing these courses and it’s good fun.”
It is also serious business, though. Davis just missed out on a Ryder Cup debut last year and winning on Sunday would be a huge boost to his hopes of making the team at the K Club near Dublin next September.
Aside from the money – first prize is nearly £450,000 (€660,268) – there are the world ranking points. Davis is currently 102nd and that is not good enough to get him into the majors and world championships, almost a pre-requirement to getting into Ian Woosnam’s line-up.
Sam Torrance, the 52-year-old former Ryder Cup captain, had top-scored at the Home of Golf yesterday with a 68, but when he switched to Kingsbarns he followed six pars with a bogey five.
But Torrance did then birdie the long 12th to return to four under.
Joint fifth were Paul Casey, Anthony Wall, Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez and Howell.
Montgomerie parred the seventh, eighth and ninth for an outward 30, then missed an eight-foot birdie chance at the short 11th.
At eight under he led by one from Ferrie, while Molinari ran up a six at the long 12th at Carnoustie to be third with Australian Brett Rumford.
Davis bogeyed the 13th and 16th to be four under and Casey was on the same mark. He dropped shots at the 11th and 12th, but birdied two holes later.
