Montgomerie off to flying start

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie of Scotland scorched to a seven-under-par 65 to take a commanding three-shot lead after the first round of the US$1 million Caltex Masters presented by Carlsberg, Singapore 2005 on Thursday.

The European Ryder Cup hero had seven birdies including three at par-three holes as he began his quest for a winning start to the year at Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

The 41-year-old Montgomerie heads Danny Chia of Malaysia , spearheading the Asian Tour challenge in the joint sanctioned event with the European Tour, English duo Mark Foster and Nick Dougherty in joint second place after rounds of 68.

Former winner Arjun Atwal of India and Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand both had disastrous days. Atwal, who will compete in several events on the US PGA Tour this year despite losing full playing rights, hit his first shot of 2005 out of bounds and struggled to recover from that blow finishing with a 77.

Thailand's Thongchai was twice in the water at par three holes and dropped five shots in three holes after the turn going bogey, bogey, double bogey on his way to a seven-over-par 79.

Thongchai, who lifted the Carlsberg Malaysian Open last year to win his card for the European Tour, sliced into the water at the 12th and 17th holes and ran up double bogeys. China 's Zhang Lian-wei, who pipped South Africa 's Ernie Els to win the title in 2002, recovered from twice hitting second shots into the water to close with an even par 72.

Montgomerie, a seven-time winner of the European Tour Order of Merit, picked up from where he left off from last year's victorious trip to Singapore where he had closed with a 65 to triumph.

He said that good preparation for the event had paid off with a bogey-free opening round. "I did this properly. I came out to Dubai early for four days and really enjoyed myself there playing on my own course and then came over here so the jet lag was not the same as it usually is," said Montgomerie, who only dropped one shot on his way to a three-stroke victory last year.

"I prepared myself properly and I have never been happier really, I suppose, on and off
the course. I really feel that this is a fantastic start to the New Year, it is the way I used to play in the 1990s where I did not make mistakes and I am always proud of that fact when I finish a round of golf.

"I never missed a green today, hardly missed a fairway and that was as good as I have ever done in these circumstances (when it is hot and difficult to concentrate). To start out a year when the pressure is on for me to get my world ranking back to where it should be, and I know it should be in the top 20, this is a fantastic start and it is only a start."

Monty was pleased with his frame of mind. "I am happier on and off the course as I said, as I have ever been in my life, so this is a great start to what hopefully will be a good year. You can't win it on the first day but you can lose it and I am looking forward to continuing."

Slimline Montgomerie was delighted with his form at the par-three holes. "I have always prided myself in the number of twos I have had in a round, I have made an inordinate number of twos in my career - I'd love to add it up - and again I made three today."

Malaysia 's Chia was upbeat after holing his 15-yard bunker shot at the last hole for a birdie and a round of 68. "It was a nice way to finish," said Chia, who had six birdies and two bogeys in his round. "My season depends a lot on me doing well this week as I lost
my card last year (finishing 71st on the Order of Merit) and I am playing here on a sponsor's invitation.

"I can get into some events on a country exemption but it would be great todo well here this week to put me in a better position for the rest of the season."

The 32-year-old Chia was joint 23rd in the Caltex Masters presented by Carlsberg last year and feels he is playing well enough to better that result. "I am driving the ball good and just missed one fairway - my irons were solid except for the 17th where I misjudged one and that led to a bogey," said Chia.

"I have moved back to using a short putter from the belly putter and I am feeling quite comfortable with it. I made a few putts but missed a few makeable ones as well."

Dougherty continued in the form which saw him finish joint fourth in last week's South Africa Airways Open.

"I played lovely out there - the swing now feels a lot more natural than it did. I was not going to win what I want to win in the future playing with my old swing so I had to change it and it is good times now," said the 22-year-old Dougherty, who is confident of realising his full potential after a stuttering start to his professional career.

Atwal, the 2002 champion, was disappointed at his poor start to the year. "What a beginning to the year," said Atwal, who was in the same group as the charging Montgomerie. "I snap hooked my opening drive (he started at the 10th hole) but I did not realise it was out of bounds until I went up there. I had to go back to the tee to hit another one. After that it was difficult to get my round going. It made it worse that Monty was playing so well."

Zhang did not have the benefit of a practice round only arriving in Singapore on Wednesday and was a bit rusty in his first outing of the year. "It was not too bad a score as I was in the water twice," said Zhang. "I hit my second shots at the third and the 13th holesinto the water. It was windy this afternoon and that made it difficult."

Two-time Asian number one Kang Wook-soon holed in one at the 193-yard fifth hole on his way to a level par 72. The 38-year-old Kang used a six iron to record the first hole in one of the 2005 Asian Tour season. There was no prize on offer at the hole but sponsors Caltex will make donations to several charities to mark Kang's achievement.

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