Monty takes share of Melbourne lead

A rejuvenated Colin Montgomerie today carded a flawless 65 to claim a share of the clubhouse lead in the second round of the €633,000 Heineken Classic.

Ireland's Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane both finished at two over so did not make the cut, while Gary Murphy was three over and is also out. Graeme McDowell was best of the Irish at two under and goes forward to the next round.

Montgomerie, second last week in the defence of his Caltex Masters title in Singapore, fired six birdies and no bogeys for a nine-under-par halfway total of 133.

That was later matched by Peter Lonard who recorded a 68, while another Australian, 23-year-old rookie Jarrod Lyle, was also nine under with seven holes to play.

Overnight joint-leader Trevor Immelman was alone in fourth after adding a 69 to his opening 65, a shot ahead of Swede Henrik Stenson and Aussies James Nitties and Craig Parry.

Ernie Els was also back in contention after what he described as a “grinding” 64, the South African three shots off the lead as he chases a record-equalling fourth straight victory.

Six-time major winner Nick Faldo finished in style with birdies at the last two holes for an excellent 66, but at two over par would not make the halfway cut.

Wednesday’s torrential rain, the heaviest in 150 years in the city, has taken some of the sting out of the notoriously quick Royal Melbourne greens, but Montgomerie was still almost caught out.

“I missed from three feet for birdie on the fourth and did very well to hole the return from at least double the distance, but holed a couple of good ones,” said the 41-year-old Scot.

“It’s always nice to score well around this golf course, I enjoy playing here. I came here playing well and have continued to do so. Let’s hope I can last another couple of days and we will see what happens.”

Montgomerie won just once last season and needed a wild card from captain Bernhard Langer to play his starring role in the Ryder Cup.

He ended the year ranked 81st in the world but is determined to get back inside the top 25 by the end of 2005, and feels he is rediscovering the sort of form which saw him win the Order of Merit for seven years in succession.

“I’ve played one tournament and I’m leading the driving accuracy and greens in regulation categories and that’s what I used to do seven years in a row,” added Montgomerie, who credits his revival to losing weight to ease a back problem.

“For the last three or four years I haven’t and that’s what has caused the problem. If I hit the fairways I’m going to hit the greens and all I have to do is hole four or five putts and I’ve shot 67.

“It’s all very easy on paper – unfortunately it’s not played on paper – but that’s what I used to and I used to do it quite well.”

Els began the day one over par and in danger of missing the cut, but birdied three of the first five holes and dropped just one shot.

“I just wanted to make the cut to be honest,” said the world number three. “I had a bit of work left to do and it was a good little pressure exercise.

“I just wasn’t on my game yesterday, I missed a lot of putts and was a bit out of sorts. I’m still struggling to hit the ball at the flags, I’m so used to bouncing them into the green.

“I’ve been coming here for five years and never seen the course so soft, it’s tough to adjust to. But it was a good, grinding 64.”