European Tour: Colin Montgomerie's build-up to the final major of the season went horribly wrong at Gleneagles yesterday when he retired hurt after only 13 holes.

What Montgomerie called "one of the worst shots I've ever hit" left him with three bruised and swollen fingers.

Now the 42-year-old, runner-up in the British Open last month, has only six days before the start of the US PGA Championship.

As England's Mark Foster took the lead in the Johnnie Walker Championship with a four-under-par 68, Montgomerie headed to London to see a hand specialist.

"I couldn't feel the club at all, but hopefully it's just heavily bruised," said the Scot, who had wanted to be flying to New Jersey as European number one for the first time in six years.

A top-two finish was needed for that, but Montgomerie had played only eight of the 72 holes when the incident happened.

From the middle of the fairway on the long 18th, his ninth hole, his grip slipped as he went with a driver into the wind. He took a big divot and the ball squirted out right into dense rough only about 80 yards away.

Montgomerie put it at 30 yards himself, but rather than being concerned how far it went he was feeling some tingling in his right hand. That became much worse when he thrashed at the ball with his next shot. "All three middle fingers are bruised and swollen," he said.

"I got some ice and took some painkillers, but there was no way I could grip it at all.

"I'm sorry, but hopefully everyone understands I cannot play if I'm not physically fit."

He had fallen to five over par when he decided that it was simply not worth the risk of aggravating the injury by continuing, especially with such a big week coming up.

The specialist he will see is the same one who treated him two summers ago when he had to pull out of the British Open at Sandwich after a fall at his hotel.

It left the tournament with no genuine star names to attract fans over the weekend.

Montgomerie, who has joined up with the sponsors and Gleneagles as chairman to promote the event, had said the previous day his role was "to try to build this championship into one of the premier events on the European Tour, if not the premier event".

Montgomerie's Ryder Cup team-mate David Howell, who had been due to partner him in the first two rounds, scratched yesterday after further discomfort with the abdominal muscle he tore at the US Open in June.

Second on the order of merit at the time, Howell has not played since and is also now doubtful for next week.

Australian Richard Green was left as the highest-ranked player - he is 50th in the world - but an opening 77 leaves him in danger of bowing out at halfway.

Paul Casey, Howell's partner in the win over the Americans last September, showed a semblance of real form at long last. After six successive missed cuts, Casey, a winner on the course four years ago, returned a 71.

Foster, only 122nd on the order of merit and without a top-10 finish all year, made six birdies and two bogeys.

Foster was the only player to break 70, but no fewer than 12 finished on two under.

They included Wexford's Damien McGrane, who had five birdies in his 70.

Next best of the Irish was Gary Murphy, a shot back after a 71, while Peter Lawrie signed for a level par 72.

Philip Walton had another roller-coaster round which included only seven pars, but at two over par and tied for 54th he is in position to make the cut. Stephen Browne has some work to do after a 75.