Colin Montgomerie vaults into lead with 65

Colin Montgomerie took a huge step towards winning his eighth European order of merit when he mastered windy conditions at St Andrews on Friday to take a one-stroke lead in the Dunhill Links Championship.

Montgomerie's first return to the Old Course where he finished second behind Tiger Woods in the July British Open, proved a triumphant one.

The 42-year-old Scot fashioned a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 in the second round to surge to nine-under-par 135.

While Montgomerie's score was three shots worse than the all-time Old Course record, it equalled the new elongated course record set by South African David Frost in this year's Open.

It took Montgomerie ahead of fellow Briton Kenneth Ferrie and two shots clear of Swede Pierre Fulke and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez.

With an $800,000 first prize on offer, Montgomerie can climb to within less than $200,000 of European order of merit leader Michael Campbell with victory on Sunday.

Neither Campbell nor money-list second and third placed players Retief Goosen and Angel Cabrera are playing the celebrity event over three courses this week, so Montgomerie has two more rounds to take full advantage.

A blistering start by Montgomerie saw him chalk up four birdies and an eagle - holing a 45ft putt from off the green on the fifth.

He excelled in the wind and proved he is now in full control at the Home of Golf where he has had several disappointments in the past, including losing to much lesser rated players from China, India and Paraguay in Dunhill Cups.

"I understand the average score around St Andrews was 73.5 so that's the best I've done against the field," said the elated Montgomerie.

"I've never really enjoyed the wind in the past but I had looked forward to coming back and playing St Andrews after the positive British Open I had."

As well as taking a large stride towards being European number one again, a 662,415 Ryder Cup points-haul for winning would break the back of Montgomerie's bid to earn a place by right this time after needing a wild-card for the last match against the Americans.

Currently he lies only 18th in the European table but victory could take him top.

"This weekend is very important for me to try to make inroads into getting into the Ryder Cup. I'd like to play in it at least one more time."

Ferrie, winner of the European Open in July, with Montgomerie second, moved into contention with a four-under-par 68 at Carnoustie.

Fulke's 66, in which he holed out for an eagle-two on the 16th, was also made over the Old Course, while Gonzalez, matched Ferrie's 68 at Carnoustie.

Kingsbarns, where Montgomerie moves to on Saturday, is the third of the courses being used.

After a three-round cut, the final round will be at St Andrews, a further reason for Montgomerie now being odds-on favourite as he aims for his 29th European Tour title and first for over 18 months.

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