Birthday boy Monty unhappy with finish

Colin Montgomerie moved into the lead, had “Happy Birthday” sung to him, was presented with a cake and was made to laugh by a youngster answering him back.

Yet still the Scottish star came off not with a smile but a scowl after a second successive 68 in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

What Montgomerie really wanted on the day he became a 43-year-old was to finish on a high note – and he palpably failed to do that.

Last Sunday, of course, his hopes of a first major title were dashed by a closing double bogey in the US Open.

He then spoilt his opening round this week with a bogey six at the 18th, so when he three-putted for ‘only’ a par five on his return to the course a worrying trend had not escaped his attention.

“I don’t know what’s going on there – it’s very disappointing to finish badly again,” said Montgomerie.

“That’s the third round in a row and that’s not good. Not good at all. If I can’t two-putt from 20 feet there’s something wrong.

“Did it tarnish the US Open? Of course it did. Did it tarnish yesterday? Yes. Did it tarnish today? Yes it did.”

Montgomerie simply had to see the funny side, however, of his exchange with a small boy at the back of a grandstand by the 18th green.

Backing off his chip brought the normal request for ‘Quiet please’ from caddie Alastair McLean.

Some on-lookers thought they heard the boy say “I need the toilet” but Montgomerie heard it as “You be quiet” and fell into laughter.

“Well, that’s a new one,” he commented. “It’s the first time I’ve actually been answered back by a two-year-old.”

Once he had time to reflect on his 10-under-par halfway total Montgomerie could not be unhappy, especially when former Ryder Cup team-mate Thomas Bjorn, ahead by two overnight, failed to rediscover the magic of his opening 65.

The Dane remained eight under with an outward 36, then as the wind picked up strength bogeyed the 350-yard 11th and had a double-bogey seven on the long 12th to fall five behind.

Into second place came Argentina’s little-known Andres Romero on nine under with nine still to play, while England’s Paul Casey was two back after 11 holes.

The most remarkable stretch of golf had come earlier from Chilean Felipe Aguilar. Four over par and heading out of the event with 10 remaining he sank a five-iron approach for an albatross two on the ninth, then birdied the next five.

Englishman Mark Foster missed the cut even with a hole in one on the 211-yard fourth, while 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie was disqualified for signing for a wrong score after slumping to a 78.

Swede Robert Karlsson, winner of the Wales Open two weeks ago, is looking for back-to-back victories.

Having failed to qualify for the US Open he eagled the 320-yard 14th en route to a 68 and seven-under total.