Monty hits form in Cup race

With only one question mark over whether he should be picked for next month’s Ryder Cup – his form – Colin Montgomerie set about putting that right in Munich today.

Europe’s top scorer in the win at The Belfry two years ago needs a wild card for the first time in his life and finishes of 70th and 58th the last two weeks have not helped that.

But in between heavy downpours Montgomerie compiled an opening five under par 67 in the first round of the BMW International Open and trailed US Open champion Retief Goosen by one.

The 41-year-old Scot, favourite to be chosen by Bernhard Langer on Sunday, even led a tournament for the first time in months when he sank a 15-foot eagle putt from just off the green at the 481-yard sixth, his 15th.

Goosen, however, was firing on all cylinders on his return from a pelvic injury suffered while jet-skiing in Barbados.

The South African was only one under after eight holes, but then birdied five of the next eight to take over at the top.

The early leader had been England’s Luke Donald, fancied by many to be Langer’s other choice once the qualifying race is over.

Like Montgomerie, the 26-year-old cannot now make it into the top 10 who earn automatic spots, but he has burst to prominence this month with a victory in Sweden and then two strong showings in America.

He reached four under after 13 holes, but while playing partner Montgomerie eagled he ran up a bogey six after his second shot cleared the water by the green, but then rolled back in.

A 20-foot birdie putt on the last, however, gave him a 68 and Montgomerie had to follow him in from 18 to “beat” him. He did.

Paul McGinley, currently 10th in the points standings and desperate to hang on to it, had an eagle himself at the 568-yard 18th to turn in 34 and remained two under with four to play.

The man closest to him in the chase is France’s Jean-Francois Remesy, but he can afford to finish no lower than seventh and that was a long way off as he managed only a two over 74.

Ian Poulter is just above McGinley and could earn a debut even by missing the cut, but that is not the way the 28-year-old from Milton Keynes wants to do it and he was hoping for something better than to be one over after 16 holes.

Making a move was Swede Joakim Haeggman – only a week after pulling out of the NEC world championship following an opening 80.

Haeggman, who has to finish fifth at worst to have a chance of climbing into the team and relinquishing the assistant captain’s role he was given by Langer in March, was four under after 16 as well.