Monty leads at Valderrama
Colin Montgomerie remains on course to win the Volvo Masters at Valderrama and with it a stunning eighth Order of Merit crown.
Joint first round leader with defending champion Ian Poulter, the 42-year-old Scot was even more impressive on his return to arguably Europe’s most demanding test of golf.
Montgomerie added a five-under-par 66 to his opening 67 – and now is not only two ahead of Poulter and Sergio Garcia, but at nine under par is also on pace to set a new tournament record.
His halfway total could have been even better as well. The Ryder Cup star, who will return to the world’s top 10 by taking the trophy, three-putted the last, missing from under three feet.
As for Michael Campbell, the only man who can deny Montgomerie another money list title, he improved three strokes on his opening day 72, but while that was good enough to lift him from 23rd spot to 11th he fell from five behind to eight adrift.
The New Zealander already trails by nearly £105,000 and needs a top-four finish now just to have a chance. But the odds on him are even longer now.
“I am obviously delighted,” said Montgomerie. “I came here with all sorts of pressure and anxieties and all sorts of stuff going on, so I am proud of that. That was very, very good – very good.
