At first it appeared he was angry that he did not have time to attempt his 25-foot birdie putt on the final green before the siren sounded.

But after two-putting at 7.30am this morning for a one over par 73 that left him five off the lead Montgomerie said that his “disappointment” was that his group had taken so long to reach that point.

A three-ball that started 10 minutes later than him on the front nine had already finished and when asked if any officials had tried to hurry up things Montgomerie said: “Nothing was done.”

The Scot’s main concern, though, as he turned his attentions to a second round starting an hour later, was his putting.

“I had 33 putts and you can’t do that,” he stated. “A 73 is very good with that. You can say what you like about the clubs and ball (he has changed both this season), but I have putted miserably.”

Last week Montgomerie made his first halfway cut in four starts on the US Tour and last month also suffered a first round exit in the Accenture world match play in California.

Meanwhile, Ryder Cup team-mate Padraig Harrington moved into a share of 12th place on two under when he resumed by sinking a six-foot birdie putt at the long 11th and then went fifth with a 20-footer on the short 13th.

It put him only one behind American pacesetters Jay Haas, Bob Tway, Rocco Mediate and Skip Kendall.

Kevin Sutherland was also four under overnight, but had two holes left and bogeyed the 18th for a 69.