Monty makes solid start
Colin Montgomerie sank a birdie at his second hole to ensure a solid start to the Scot's opening round as the BMW Asian Open got under way at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club on Thursday.
Starting on the 10th, Montgomerie recorded a three on the par-four 11th to lie one under par after seven holes and a stroke behind the early leaders as the 43-year-old starts his bid for a first European Tour win since December 2005.
The leading group includes South African Retief Goosen, fresh from his tie for second at the Masters, who picked up shots at the 13th and 15th, and last week's Volvo China Open winner Markus Brier, who sank three birdies in his opening four holes to go with one bogey.
Gareth Davies is also one under, a solitary birdie at the 11th helped the Englishman reach the halfway point of his round in 35, alongside Welshman Garry Houston, who birdied the par-five second but has only played three holes.
Fellow Welsh duo Mark Pilkington and Stephen Dodd are level par after both completed their opening nine holes in 36.
Graeme McDowell, who claimed a tie for second at Shanghai Silport Golf Club last week, made a low-key start to his opening round, the Northern Irishman bogeying the 12th to stand one over par through nine holes.
