Angry Monty’s shot in the dark

VALDERRAMA is tough enough — with its narrow fairways lined by an unending, thick line of cork trees and small, fast greens — without expecting golfers to play in the dark.

Colin Montgomerie may hold a two-shot lead over holder Ian Poulter and home hope Sergio Garcia, and he may have the European Tour Order of Merit title almost within his grasp at the halfway stage of the Volvo Masters, but that still didn't prevent him from showing his tetchy side here last night. With good reason he wonders why a tournament involving only 55 players doesn't start until 10am, with the leaders not departing the first tee until after 2pm?

"I don't understand it because it is unfair to the later starters," he moaned.

"Over the last few holes it seemed like the trees on either side of the fairways were almost touching and it was very difficult to read the lines of the putts. They do the same at Augusta, starting at 3 o'clock, so that there's hardly any time for a play-off. So hopefully something will be done about it."

He and Sergio Garcia will depart the first tee once again at 2.20pm this afternoon, making for a finish just under four hours later. You see what he means.

And it wasn't the only area in which he displayed a touch of impatience a four letter word was clearly audible as he took exception to a questioner who persisted in being told the current whereabouts of the putter he "tossed away" after missing a tiddler in the recent Madrid Open.

For now, though, there's nothing wrong with any aspect of Montgomerie's game. Yesterday's 66 contained a couple of blemishes at the 10th, where his approach spun back off the green, and at the 18th, where he insists the poor light caused him to miss from three feet. But he wasn't complaining on that score and why would he, considering he compensated with seven birdies?

Michael Campbell hasn't exactly conceded the order of merit title to Montgomerie but it now looks a hopeless cause for the Kiwi. He showed he is not for quitting with yesterday's splendid 69, but with Monty already 153,487 ahead before a ball was struck this week and currently eight strokes better off, all he can really do is keep playing his best golf.

"I'm just going to go out and do what I've been doing the last six months, give 100% on every single shot and just have a bit of fun on the way," Campbell said.

Sergio Garcia may represent the greatest threat to Montgomerie, although the talented Spaniard was more than a little annoyed with himself for the bogey he took on the 18th. It does look a bit of a daft hole but Sergio wasn't complaining as he agreed: "It could be a little straighter but the beauty of this course is that it makes you think. You can hit the ball 30 yards wide on some of the courses we play and it doesn't matter."

Garcia's 67 moved him up to seven under par and two adrift of Montgomerie, the same as Poulter, so with 36 holes to go there isn't much between the top three.

"I'm not bothered about Monty, I'm only bothered about myself," said Garcia.

"I've not really done anything yet. If I play the way I've been playing, I know I can do well. My aim is to put pressure on Monty and see how we both handle it."