Colin Montgomerie lost his temper again as his search for form continued at the Forest of Arden today.
The seven-time European number one, in his last outing before next week's US Open, angrily brandished a club at a group of press photographers en route to a far from magnificent seven during his opening 73 at the British Masters.
Montgomerie, who entered the event only at the weekend after missing the halfway cut in last week's Wales Open, hooked his drive into a ditch on the long seventh.
His first attempt to recover hit a bank and finished behind him, after which he turned to the cameramen and stormed: "I said no pictures and I mean no pictures."
European tour chief referee John Paramor was then spoken to, not by the Scot, but by some of the photographers, who felt they were going about their job perfectly properly.
He told them that as long as that was the case, they should continue.
After the round, however, Montgomerie said: "It was not a happy situation. They were taking pictures when I was trying to concentrate.
"They are supposed to be professionals and they were amateurs, I'm afraid."
Montgomerie, star of the Ryder Cup win last September, endured a horror time in America at the start of this year, making only one halfway cut in six starts and crashing out in the first round of the Accenture world matchplay.
He did have a second place in the Italian Open on his return to Europe a month ago, but has failed to follow that up as he hoped.
His opening round left him eight off the lead and again fighting to avoid the cut.
Australia's Peter Fowler maintained his form revival by surging into the lead with a blemish-free round of seven-under-par 65.
The 43-year-old, who has not won for a decade, reeled off seven birdies at Forest of Arden to better the effort of second-placed Raymond Russell by a stroke.
Tournament favourite Darren Clarke is one under par after a first round 71. Best of the Irish is tour newcomer Peter Lawrie who lies three under, one ahead of fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley.