Montgomerie holds upper hand on Campbell at Volvo Masters

By Norman Dabell

SOTOGRANDE, Spain (Reuters) – Colin Montgomerie drew first
blood in the race to become Europe’s number one by grabbing a
share of the lead after the first round of the Volvo Masters at
Valderrama on Thursday.

The 42-year-old Montgomerie, in a fight with U.S. Open
champion Michael Campbell to finish top of the order of merit,
joined Volvo Masters title holder and fellow Briton Ian Poulter
on four-under-par 67.

New Zealander Campbell, 153,487 euros behind Montgomerie
going into this week’s final counting event, bogeyed the last
hole to register a one-over 72.

A front nine of three-under-par 32 gave Montgomerie the
upper hand on playing partner Campbell, including an eagle two
at the eighth when he holed out with his wedge from 110 yards.

The Scot, who will rack up his eighth order of merit crown
if he stays ahead of Campbell, is erring on the side of caution
despite his good start.

“I said I’m here to win the Volvo Masters and that’s my
intention,” Montgomerie told reporters.

“I’ll be having a quiet glass of wine tonight but I won’t
be raising a glass to anyone because it isn’t over yet by any
means.

FORGOTTEN ROUND

“Michael hung on really well and nearly parred the last.
This is a forgotten round though and we’re all equal tomorrow.”

Campbell conceded the day to his rival but not the order of
merit.

“I played all right and Monty played some fantastic stuff,”
Campbell said. “But there’s a long way to go.

“Three rounds over this course can change things a lot.”

Poulter is trying to do what he did 12 months ago. When the
Briton beat Sergio Garcia in a playoff, he continued his
sequence of winning every year since his maiden victory in the
2000 Italian Open.

“I’ve put myself in a position where I can keep my record
going,” Poulter said.

“I really don’t care what the headlines are on Monday
morning, whether Monty or Campbell wins, I’m just worrying
about myself.”

Garcia and fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, whose first
win in three years came at Sunday’s Majorca Classic, and Briton
Luke Donald were one stroke off the lead.

Swede Robert Karlsson and Briton Steve Webster shared sixth
place on 69.