Golf: Monty on song in Qatar

Colin Montgomerie bounced back from missing the cut last week in the first round of the Qatar Masters.

Montgomerie missed the cut in the Dubai Desert Classic for the first time in more than a decade.

He spent all weekend practising in Dubai to try and avoid a similar fate in Qatar.

And it looked as though that practice had paid instant dividends as the seven-time European number one carded an opening four-under-par 68 at Doha Golf Club.

Montgomerie recorded four birdies to make a satisfactory start to the $1.5m (€1.7m) event.

"I played very well tee to green and missed a load of putts on my front nine, but started to putt a wee bit better on the back nine," said Montgomerie.

"But I struck the ball well, I'm glad to have shot 68 and no bogeys is always what I'm after.

"There was no real opportunity of making a mistake unless I three-putted, so that was fine. I was delighted."

Montgomerie was outscored by playing partner Adam Scott, the Australian carding birdies at three of the last four holes to card a 67.

Zimbabwe's Tony Johnstone had also made a good start to the defence of his title by firing a 68.