Lancome Trophy, Paris: Colin Montgomerie managed a 68 despite hitting into a lake at the last in yesterday's Lancome Trophy first round - and he was smiling all the way to the scorer's caravan.
It has been a miserable summer for Montgomerie, as he slipped to 21st in the European money list and 32nd in the world rankings. But he finished the day defiantly upbeat in Paris.
"In all the years I've played here it's the first time I've been in the water - I've always managed to miss the green left but today I hit a real over-40s shot," said the Scot with a grin.
"I'm loving playing with the new Hogan ball, but unfortunately it doesn't float. I'll take three under par, though. I was hoping to finish four under after long birdie putts at the 16th and 17th, but I'm putting better and hitting the ball well, and that's great."
Montgomerie was philosophical about negotiations over clubs and ball contracts after a company takeover. "It's in the hands of the lawyers and hopefully will be sorted out quickly, but it's nice to be playing the equipment I want to play," he said.
There was no trace of envy towards his playing partner Ben Curtis, the 26-year-old American who won July's British Open from a man without a major title.
"Ben is a lovely bloke," he said. "Expectations are high for him after what happened at Sandwich and he got the job done with a 69 today - good luck to him."
Retief Goosen led the field on 63, one ahead of Sweden's Mikael Lundberg. England's Simon Wakefield squeezed seven birdies into a 65.
A 66 from Paul McGinley was matched by two men who holed in one within 15 minutes of each other. Spain's Carlos Rodiles did the trick first at the 148-yard seventh to win a €850 motor scooter but Australia's Terry Price got nothing for his ace at the 193-yard 12th.
Goosen hopes to overhaul Ernie Els at the top of the money list despite trailing €1.35 million behind his fellow South African in 19th place. "If I can win here and a couple more of the next three big-money events, I could be right up there," he said.
"With the birth of my first child, my mindset has been somewhere else and I'm a long way behind, but there are some big events still to come and I'm going to be trying my best to keep it going."
Goosen's playing-partner Padraig Harrington carded a 68. The Dubliner, too, has said his life will be affected by the arrival of his first child last month, and Goosen added: "It does take your concentration a bit away from the course so you'd better ask Padraig in a couple of months if it's affected him as well."
Damien McGrane also carded a three-under-par 68.
Guardian Service
