Montgomerie gets back into swing at Wales Open

Colin Montgomerie felt he was “in danger of becoming competitive again” after the first round of the Celtic Manor Wales Open.

Montgomerie carded a flawless five-under-par 67 at Wentwood Hills to lie just two shots off the lead held by Swindon’s David Howell.

It was comfortably the best round the 40-year-old has completed since the news he was separating from wife Eimear “with a view to divorce” last month.

The Scot pulled out of an event in China when the announcement was made and finished 128th out of 156 at the Deutsche Bank Open a fortnight ago, his worst performance since his first European Tour event in 1988.

But the former European number one looked close to his best today with five birdies and no bogeys to claim a share of third place in the event.

“I am in grave danger of becoming competitive again,” said Montgomerie.

“I want to be and I am trying my best. It was the first time I have played a round of golf without a bogey since the troubles I suppose and the world is a much better place when that happens.”

Montgomerie birdied the second and eighth to reach the turn in 34 and picked up three more birdies, coming home to lift his name on to the leaderboard for the first time in recent weeks.

“That’s when you feel the competitive juices again, that was a good positive sign,” added Montgomerie, who has slipped out of the top 50 in the world and has to qualify for next month’s British Open at his home course of Troon.

“It was good to get under par early on and build on that.

“One round does not make a summer but it is the best I have done for a while.

“Wentworth had a lot of memories for me last week and that was quite difficult but this tournament does not have the same memories so I felt good.

“I also enjoyed playing with Ian Poulter and Paul Lawrie, I have played a lot of golf with Paul (including all four matches at the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline).

“The group I play in is quite important for me at this stage and I was delighted with that draw. The chat is light-hearted which is what I need.”

Montgomerie is not getting carried away by just 18 good holes of golf however, and maintains it will take him at least six months to get back to some semblance of normality.

“I still feel it will take six months, this is a very short space of time to be back in contention. But this is one thing I can do. It’s easier to keep out the negative thoughts when you don’t make any bogeys.”