Monty hits out on slow day at Forest of Arden

Colin Montgomerie let it be known what he thought of the pace of play as he tumbled spectacularly off the first-round leaderboard in the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters at the Forest of Arden today.

“Five-and-a-half hours is an hour too long,” said the 41-year-old after a closing triple bogey seven meant he had to settle for a level par 72.

“I would not say it affected my concentration, but it became very, very slow. Not only for us, but for the spectators alike.”

Montgomerie would have been part of a five-way tie at the top but for a closing triple bogey seven on the 476-yard ninth, where he was in trouble off the tee, in a bunker for three and then three-putted from little more than three feet.