Monty struggles to stay in touch

Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie came to Erinvale with high hopes, but after a good start to the South African Airways Open, where he carded an impressive 68, it all came crashing down.

Montgomerie, who has his sights on a resurgent year which he hopes will include a top 10 world ranking for the first time in three years and a Ryder Cup place, struggled to stay in contention with the leaders at Erinvale on Friday.

It all started to go horribly wrong on the third, as the Scot pulled his ball out of bounds and scrambled to make a double bogey seven.

He also bogeyed the seventh to stumble to the turn in 39 and swung his putter in frustration after leaving an eagle putt on the 13th short of the hole.

The birdie took him to two over for the day and two under for the tournament, five shots behind the leaders.

The early starters looked to have the better of the conditions and overnight leader Brett Rumford of Australia picked up two birdies but then dropped three shots to rejoin the pack on seven under.

Earlier Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth stormed up the leaderboard with a 69.

Forsyth, who partnered Paul Lawrie to 12th place in the World Cup in Mexico last year, made the most of the sunshine which parted the clouds this morning.

Starting on the 10th, Forsyth parred the first six holes before birdies on 16 and 17 took him to the turn in 34.

He also birdied the par five third but felt several more chances went begging.

“It definitely could have been better,” he said. “I probably actually played better yesterday to be honest but I was never in any trouble today.

“The putt I holed from 15 feet at the last for par was about the only time I had to try and rescue myself.

“I missed a few birdie chances but from tee to green it was pretty solid. It is the type of course that if you are playing well it offers you chances.

“I didn’t take them all – I still feel the putting is a bit rusty – having not really putted for a couple of months and it is something that will take a little time. But I’m happy with the way that I am playing so I can’t really complain.”

Joining him on seven under were South Africans Nico van Rensburg and Craig Lile, who shot 70 and 68 respectively.

But Welshman Stephen Dodd, who was in second place overnight, dropped two shots with bogeys on the fourth and sixth to lie sixth on five under.

With the cut predicted to come at level par, pre-tournament favourite Lee Westwood looked to have snuck in with a 72 to leave him one under, while Scotland’s Paul Lawrie will have to wait and see if his 73 for a one over total of 145 will be enough.