Monty makes the right impression

Colin Montgomerie rolled back the years to claim the lead in the 106th US Open today.

Montgomerie – without a top-10 finish in the event since 1997 – carded a one-under-par 69 at Winged Foot for a one-shot lead over Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk, and was the only player in the first half of the field to break par.

The Scot finished third in 1992, lost a play-off in 1994 and was second again in 1997, but has failed to make an impact in the championship since.

An inward nine of 43 in Sunday’s final round of the Austrian Open was hardly the ideal preparation either, but the 42-year-old remained optimistic about his prospects.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge this week as the US Open is my style of golf,” insisted the eight-time European number one – and how right he was.

Montgomerie got off to a slow start with bogeys at the first and third, and after a birdie on the sixth was followed by another bogey on the eighth, the Scot was two over par.

At 514 yards the ninth is the longest par four in major championship history, but a brilliant approach to four feet set up a birdie three, and further birdies at the 12th and 17th – the latter a curling effort from 25ft – took Montgomerie into the outright lead.

It could have been even better, Montgomerie missing from five feet for a birdie on the 18th, but with the greens drying out thanks to a testing breeze, it could be good enough to lead throughout the day.

It had also been a superb first morning for English duo Kenneth Ferrie and Phillip Archer, both playing their first US Open and Archer making his first appearance in any major.

Ashington’s Ferrie carded a one over 71 despite bogeys at two of the last three, while Archer three-putted the last in his 72.

“If you had given me a 71 before I would have gladly taken it but a bogey on the last always makes lunch taste a bit worse,” admitted Ferrie, who was caught up in a gamesmanship row with Paul McGinley at last month’s Irish Open.

“I saw my name up on the leaderboard and I said to my caddie I’ve had it up there in the Open at Troon and now the US Open – it’s just a shame it’s been after seven or eight holes.

“I didn’t really have anything to aim it at the start of the week, I had no idea what to expect in my first US Open.

“I’m a couple off the lead but we still have 54 holes to go and there is a 79 or 80 out there without doing a great deal wrong.”

Archer agonisingly missed a six-foot birdie putt for the first 59 on the European Tour during the recent Wales Open, but joked: “I had a few texts asking how about it this week but I said if I have a putt for a 69 I’d be happy!

“If someone had said I would shoot two over I would have snapped their hand off but I’ve been playing well so I just stuck with the plan I’ve been using.

“If you miss the fairway you don’t try anything, just chip out and leave a good wedge yardage.

“It’s a fantastic experience. Not many people were watching when I teed off at 7am but once the crowds got bigger you start to feel more involved.

“My wife and mum and a few friends from Warrington are here watching so I’ve got a little bit of support.”

Irish Open winner Thomas Bjorn also carded a 72, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was three over with one to play, and Ian Poulter recorded a 74 alongside Paul McGinley.

World number 11 Luke Donald and former Walker Cup team-mate Nick Dougherty both slumped to rounds of 78, eight over.

Montgomerie said: ``I'm delighted, 69 is a good score under any circumstances but especially when I was two over after three.

“It was very difficult, the greens are drying out and it’s difficult to get the ball close to the hole with a 15mph wind.

“The expectations on me to win this in the 1990s were very high and I got close a couple of times. The expectations have been lower the last few years and it does make a difference, you are more relaxed.

“It would not change my life if I did well here this week but it might have done in the 90s. It’s nice I can go out there and freewheel and not worry about things.

“I am more relaxed now. I probably wanted it a little too much before. But it would mean as much, probably more, to do it at 42 years old than 32.”