Monty makes uncertain start

Colin Montgomerie twice fell behind to Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey at the start of the HSBC World Match Play championship semi-finals at Wentworth today.

Montgomerie, winner in 1999 and three times the Volvo PGA champion on the course, bogeyed the short second.

Casey, making his debut in the event and with victories already over major winners Retief Goosen and Mike Weir, three-putted the next, but his birdie four on the long fourth took him ahead again.

Neither player was on the green in two, but the Surrey golfer chipped to within two feet of the flag, whereas Montgomerie’s bad drive meant he still required a six iron for his third shot and he could hit it only to 35 feet.

In the other match Robert Karlsson, another member of Ian Woosnam’s side at the K Club next week and trying to become the first Swede ever to reach the Match Play final, drew first blood when American Shaun Micheel bogeyed the opening hole.

Micheel, this week’s biggest giantkiller with the scalps of Tiger Woods and world number 10 Luke Donald already under his belt, missed a four-foot putt and remained one down after three.

The four players were already guaranteed €240,000 for their week’s work, but reaching the final was worth €600,000 and winning it €1.5m – golf’s richest first prize.

Casey's lead went to two when Montgomerie had his second bogey of the round on the 418-yard sixth, but the Scot had no need to panic - he was four down to defending champion Michael Campbell at the same point yesterday.

Micheel, round in a morning 65 against Donald, bogeyed again on the long fourth to fall two down, but Karlsson, conqueror of world number two Jim Furyk and Angel Cabrera, missed the green at the 212-yard fifth and failed to get up and down.