Faldo helps Heath

England’s James Heath made the most of Nick Faldo’s “pulling power” to claim a share of the clubhouse lead in the Wales Open.

Heath carded a first-round 63, six under par, at Celtic Manor to finish alongside compatriots David Lynn and Gary Emerson and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez.

That was nine shots better than his mentor Faldo, while Colin Montgomerie - hoping to finally put the controversy over his incorrect drop in the Indonesian Open behind him – bogeyed the last to finish two over.

Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam delighted the home crowds with a 64 to lie five under alongside left-hander Stuart Little, while another Faldo protégé, Nick Dougherty, was among those on four under.

Heath only turned professional last November and is relying on invites to tournaments on the main and Challenge Tour, but fortunately belongs to the management company run by a certain six-time major winner.

“He’s got quite a lot of pull so I’m glad he’s got my back,” said the 22-year-old from Surrey, who also became the youngest winner of the Lytham Trophy in 2004 with a total five shots lower than Tom Lehman’s winning score at the 1996 Open Championship.

“I normally play a practice round with him but I didn’t this week because I think he was doing promotional things which helped me get the invite.

“A phone call from Nick Faldo goes a long way and I’ve known him since I was 15 and came through his Faldo Junior Series.

“I actually spoke to him last week because I’ve had a bit of a frustrating year. It’s nice to know you can call him about any part of your game at any time. He’s a cool guy.

“My one and only goal is to get a European Tour card for 2006. I don’t know what my life has got planned for me but I can only work hard. I believe the harder you work the luckier you get.”

Montgomerie admitted he was physically and emotionally drained by his tough schedule and what has been dubbed “Jakartagate”, and added: “I just didn’t play very well.

“Three over after six is no good and then to have a sand wedge into the last and make five is something I do once a year.

“It’s possibly one tournament too many but I was committed to play here. I’ve left myself a lot to do but hopefully I will get going tomorrow and it’s nice to be talking about my golf.”

Lynn and Little were among the first players out on Thursday morning and Lynn set the early target with birdies at all five of the Roman Road course’s par threes.

“We don’t play many courses with five par threes and I can’t even remember making four twos before so that must be unique,” said Lynn, who will defend his KLM Open title in Holland next week.

“The good news is I paid my £2 to join the two’s competition this morning!”

Lynn is playing only his ninth event of the year after deciding to skip the long-haul events at the start of the season and admitted: “I’ve not hit form at all yet.

“I feel I’ve only played well for two rounds this year, the first two rounds in Italy, and then over the weekend it just disappeared.

“I’m just trying to be patient and wait until the game kicks in. I didn’t get off to the best start today, bogeying my first hole, but then I just started ripping it.”

Little has made 10 visits to the qualifying school, including successfully regaining his card there last November, but is well on his way to avoiding another visit this season thanks to his decision to travel to Shanghai at short notice in May for the BMW Asian Open.

Only first reserve for the tournament when he arrived on Tuesday, Little only found out he was in the field on Wednesday evening, a few hours before teeing off at Tomson Golf Club.

But the 37-year-old went on to finish sixth and now has £75,000 of the £100,000 he is likely to need to keep his playing rights for next season.

“Asia was quite a big decision to make,” he admitted. “It was the last tournament before the re-rank (of players from the qualifying school) and even though I was in a pretty good position, I would have been sickened if I found out I could have got in and didn’t go.

“I got in on the Wednesday evening and it was a big, big plus to finish the way I did.”

Woosnam missed good chances on the last two holes to join the leaders and admitted he was still struggling with the short putts which have become his Achilles heel in recent years.

“I call my putter ’The Black Devil,” joked Woosnam, who will captain the European side at the K Club in Ireland next year. “It starts twitching as soon as I get it in my hands.

“I tweak one to the left and the next one I push to the right.

“When I putted well I used to hit the ball hard but now I’m worried about leaving a three foot putt coming back.”