Germany's
Alex Cejka upstaged European number one Colin Montgomerie and all seven of Europe's
Ryder Cup men playing in the Lancome Trophy on Thursday.
But the German's regret was that his refound form has come too late for him to
make the Ryder Cup 12 for the match against the United States at Brookline, Massachusetts,
later this month.
Montgomerie
and Australia's Peter Senior set the morning pace with a 66 but as Cejka's putter
at last became hot, the German, who is now based back in the Czech Republic where
he was born, took over.
An eight-birdie 64, seven under par and just two strokes off the course record,
put Cejka two better than Montgomerie, Senior and Argentina's Jose Coceres.
to set up a chance of going two better than his third place in the European Masters
two weeks ago.
"I had a
great putting round at last," Cejka, third in the European Masters earlier this
month, said. "My game has been good all year but I have been unable to putt well.
"It's a little frustrating
that it has come too late for the Ryder Cup. Up to the British Open I was ninth
in the list but I missed out at Carnoustie and six players went past me on the
list and I couldn't get back at them."
Five birdies and a blemish-free round put Montgomerie in line for his sixth win
of the year.
Last Sunday
night, dismayed at letting his chance of victory slip from his grasp to hand American
Bob May the British Masters title, Montgomerie said: "Normal service will be resumed
next week. Let's see who's on the leaderboard with me in France."
Montgomerie said his success came from being comfortable on the leaderboard when
others are not.
Fellow Briton
Nick Faldo, Montgomerie's former Ryder Cup partner, had criticised the Scot for
establishing a comfort zone in Europe, where he has won the order of merit six
times in succession.
On
Thursday, however, Faldo rang to set the record straight. Montgomerie said: "Nick
phoned to say there is no animosity between us and he wished me and the Ryder
Cup team all the very best for next week.
"He
confirmed what I thought, that his comments had been taken out of context."
European Cup captain Mark James was delighted to see three other Ryder Cup men
in Paris in contention.
U.S. Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal had his best round since damaging a
hand at the U.S. Open to match Jean Van de Velde and Lancome defending champion
Miguel Jimenez's earlier 68s.
