Holders take early lead

Colin Montgomerie’s Britain and Ireland side took a two-point lead on the opening day of the Seve Trophy match against Continental Europe at El Saler near Valencia today.

The home team’s only winners in the first session of fourballs were German Alex Cejka and France's Raphael Jacquelin, who took the first six holes against Justin Rose and Ian Poulter and then withstood a fightback for a four and three victory.

David Howell came up with a superb four-iron to under three feet on the last to give himself and Lee Westwood a win over Continental Europe captain Seve Ballesteros and his old Ryder Cup partner Jose Maria Olazabal.

Paul Casey’s three closing birdies enabled him and Brian Davis to defeat Ignacio Garrido and Miguel Angel Jimenez two and one, while Padraig Harrington and Phillip Price were last-green winners over Thomas Bjorn and Sergio Garcia.

Montgomerie and fellow Scot Paul Lawrie’s halved match with Volvo Masters champion Fredrik Jacobson and fellow Swede Niclas Fasth made the score 3 1/2-1 1/2 going into the second fourballs tomorrow.