Monty upbeat after windy start
Colin Montgomerie was satisfied with his opening effort in the BMW Asian Open after posting a three-under-par 69 at a windy Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.
The Scot, who is seeking his first win on the European Tour since victory in the UBS Hong Kong Open in December 2005, recorded three birdies and crucially no bogies to lie three shots behind early pacesetter Raphael Jacquelin, who leads the way on six under par.
However, Montgomerie was pleased to finally show some promising form in testing conditions after a relatively barren month by his lofty standards in America, which culminated in missing the cut at the Masters two weeks ago.
“Three under is a good start,” he said.
“The pins are in difficult positions. I hit the ball well today from tee to green and I think that was key. I didn’t putt very well but three under is a good score despite a number of chances that went away.
“It was quite cold and the wind affected the shot. Two par-threes, the third and the 12th, needed full three woods so it’s a very difficult course.
“But I’m in contention and that’s where I want to be.”
Jacquelin, who also led after two rounds at the Volvo China Open last week, started strongly with four birdies on his outward nine.
Another two at the third and fifth moved the Frenchman to six under par, before a birdie two at the eighth cancelled out a dropped shot at the sixth as he finished with a round of 66, two shots ahead of compatriot Gregory Havret, Australian Gavin Flint, and Sung-man Lee from South Korea.
Ernie Els stands at two under after birdies at the seventh and ninth saw the South African star reach the turn in 34, while Paul Casey is one under through nine holes after a solitary birdie at the seventh.
Oliver Fisher bounced back from an opening bogey with birdies at the second and fourth to join Casey at one under after six holes, alongside Benn Barham, who reached the halfway point of his round in 35.
That group contains Retief Goosen as a bogey at the fourth saw the 38-year-old pegged back earlier in the day after going out in 34, while Welshman Garry Houston sank a useful birdie at the last to record a round of 71.
Simon Wakefield overcame the early setback of a double-bogey six at the fourth hole to post a level-par 72 after claiming shots at the 14th and 16th, and Marcus Higley is also evens for the day with six holes to play.
John Daly, however, suffered a disastrous start to his challenge this week after a triple-bogey eight at the ninth saw the 40-year-old go out in a five-over-par score of 41.
