Trio top first day leaderboard

Briton Graeme McDowell, Australian Nick O'Hern and Spain's Jose Manuel Lara shared the Heritage first round lead on Thursday as four members of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team returned to action.

Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter and David Howell played just four days after helping Europe to their stunning victory over the United States, Montgomerie and Howell enjoying the best starts with rounds of 71.

They trailed the leaders by four shots, however, with Britons Nick Dougherty, Phillip Price and Raymond Russell, and Sweden's Patrik Sjoland among a group of players a further shot back on four under par.

Montgomerie, who holed Europe's winning putt at Oakland Hills on Sunday, finished birdie-eagle to add some lustre to a patchy round.

"A three-three finish was great because nothing was happening much before," he told reporters.

"I was tired, something I'm sure you've heard from the other three (Ryder Cup) players here.

"The atmosphere was slightly different, so it is sometimes difficult to get going.

"I've got to finish top-five, something like that, to get into next week and I'd like to play Mount Juliet (next week's Irish WGC venue) so I've moved up a bunch with that finish."

McDowell said he had quickly forgotten the disappointment of losing out on this month's German Masters title to Harrington.

"Cologne was a big blow for me but it only makes me want to work harder," the Northern Irishman told reporters.

"I've got over it pretty quickly, though. A 67 will put it a long way behind me."

Advice from his mentor Nick Faldo persuaded Dougherty to give up partying and spend more time trying to be a winner, and the 22-year-old paid tribute to the six-times major champion following his tidy round of 68.

"The front nine today is how I'd like to play for the rest of my career," said Dougherty.

"I've made swing changes because I don't want to be just a good European Tour player but something much better than that.

"I'm now working so hard and the results have not always come. Golf had never made me cry before but it has this year.

"Nick (Faldo) had a quiet word with me. I have the utmost respect for that man."

U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa was among a group of players who shot 70s, two better than Harrington, but Poulter struggled to a 77.

"My gas tank was empty," Poulter said. "I've got a dull head, probably a mixture of jet-lag and champagne.

"It was difficult for me today. I didn't feel all right and I didn't hit any good shots. It all adds up to a rubbish score."

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