High winds put big names in the rough

IAN POULTER, first and second on his last two starts, was among those who suffered worst on the toughest day of the European tour season so far.

Twelve days after a course record-equalling 63 in the British Masters at the Forest of Arden Poulter had an 11 over par 83 in the opening round of the Diageo Championship at windswept Gleneagles.

"I just had to laugh," said the 27-year-old from Milton Keynes. "Obviously the last two weeks have helped (he earned over £350,000), but I didn't let it get to me and I can't say I'm overly fussed.

"It was just so difficult to make proper contact because it was blowing so hard. I've had a very bad day, but anybody under par has had an unbelievable one. Shooting two under must be like eight under on a normal day."

Scotland's Alastair Forsyth and Australian Brad Kennedy both came in with impressive 70s, while England's Zane Scotland, despite missing a three-foot putt at the last, had a level par 72 on his professional debut that was matched by Colin Montgomerie and was good enough to put him in the top 10.

Former Walker Cup amateur Marc Warren, in the last group of the day, was two under with six to play, but then bogeyed the next two.

However, he birdied the last two holes and rejoined Forsyth and Kennedy in the lead. Poulter was not the only big name to come a cropper.

Ignacio Garrido, winner of last month's Volvo PGA champion, had to finish with a birdie just to break 80 and Spanish Open champion Kenneth Ferrie beat Poulter only by one after running up 10 bogeys.

Paul Casey, with two victories already this season and winner on the course two years ago, took 76, as did Ryder Cup match-winner Paul McGinley, while Welshman Philip Price, another hero of last September's side, finished with a double bogey seven for 79.

Casey, fourth on this season's Order of Merit, slung his six-iron down in disgust after sending it over the green into a bunker at the long 18th. It was his third shot at the 533-yard hole and after failing to get up and down from the sand he commented: "I don't think I've ever played in a harder wind inland."

Montgomerie said: "It was a real battle. It was quite slow with a lot of balls being lost and a lot of balls being searched for and that was one of the best 72s I've put together for a long time."

As he finished Montgomerie and partners Lee Westwood and Ignacio Garrido met Gary Orr, who was just about to start and asked if it was as difficult as it looked.

"We just all laughed at him and walked on," said Montgomerie. Orr soon found out for himself, taking a quadruple bogey nine at the second after taking off his shoes and socks to play out of the lake by the green.

Garrido carded six sixes, while Westwood did not have a birdie all day, but just two bogeys means he is by no means out of it. Adam Scott matched Monty's 72 and is in the same position two off the lead - as he was after his opening 67 last year.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods wants to play by the rules. But he is concerned some players aren't.

Woods has stepped up his lobbying of the PGA Tour to implement a test to make sure every player in a tournament is competing with clubs specifically drivers that conform to US Golf Association rules.

While responding to questions at the Buick Classic in Westchester, New York, Woods again strongly implied some players were exceeding USGA limits for the spring-like effect the ball has off the clubface.

Asked if he believed players had clubs in their bags that "shouldn't be out here", Woods replied: "You could say that."

Manufacturers submit their clubs to the USGA to see if they conform, but clubs are not tested at PGA Tour sites. That has led to suspicion that players are using "hot clubs", especially with driving distances soaring this year.

Woods is not among the group. He ranks only 30th in driving distance at 264 metres. He never has finished a season lower than sixth.