Montgomerie struggles as Bjorn leads

In-form Dane Thomas Bjorn hit the front in the BMW International Open on Friday but defending champion Colin Montgomerie missed his first cut for two years.

Bjorn's remodelled swing powered him to an exhilarating nine-under-par 63, one stroke off the Nord-Eichenried course record and a one shot midway lead.

A dejected Montgomerie had to pack his bags after slipping to a 74.

Bjorn's flawless nine-birdie second round hauled him to 12-under-par 132, one better than Spain's Miguel Martin and Irishman Padraig Harrington.

Montgomerie's total of 146 after a faltering round that included five bogeys meant his absence from the last two rounds by a five-stroke margin.

The Scot had arrived aiming to capture the $225,000 first priz, boosting his bid to catch absent European rankings list numbers one and two Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.

He blamed his failure on the two-stroke penalty received on Thursday for missing his start time.

"The two-shot penalty shook me," admitted the world number five, who would have missed the weekend by three even without the penalty shots.

"I came here looking forward to defending my title but the penalty completely threw me for the two days.

"I'm proud of my record of making cuts and I don't come to tournaments to miss cuts, I come to win.

"It's been two years and I guess 60-odd tournaments without missing a cut, since here in Munich two years ago, oddly enough.

"I finished with a bogey yesterday and started with a three-putt today and shot a 74 when I came out anticipating a 66.

"It's very, very uncharacteristic."

Montgomerie had gone 36 tournaments in Europe without missing a cut, 55 worldwide.

At the top of the scoreboard, Bjorn again showed the form which took him to runner-up in the British Open and third place in the U.S. PGA championship.

The Dane paid tribute to veteran English coach Pete Cowen for a more confident swing which has brought back the form which had earned him four European Tour titles in three years.

Much like Nick Faldo did 15 years previously, Bjorn has worked on building a swing to stand up to pressure. But while Faldo took two years to perfect his, Bjorn has spent just two months.

Dubai-based Bjorn said: "I felt there was something missing from my game, some consistency. It all just clicked in quickly and my driving has improved dramatically.

"You look at the top guys and they drive well. Monty and Lee are up there every week and the last couple of months I've been up there.

"There's a lot of pressure in the majors and when I played really good golf on the Sunday at the last two, it proved to me I was in the right direction.~

Martin's 66 was his best round of the year and achieved with an old set of clubs.

Harrington's 66 for a 133 total was exactly the same as last year when he went into the weekend sharing the lead with Montgomerie before clinching second place to seal his Ryder Cup debut.

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