Monty sparkles early at Barclays Singapore Open

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie was among the early leaders on the first morning of the US$6 million Barclays Singapore Open after the veteran Scot moved to four under par through eight holes.

Playing the Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, Montgomerie made an excellent start with birdies on the first, third and fifth holes before an eagle at the sixth moved him to the top of the leaderboard.

However, a bogey at the eighth saw the 48-year-old slip back into the leading group.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg were the early leaders in the clubhouse with four-under-par 67s on the Tanjong Course.

“I made bogey on the second hole but got on a streak there with four straight birdies after that,” said Karlberg, who has played both the Asian and European Tours this season.  “ Unfortunately I stuffed it a bit on the back nine as I didn’t hit it close enough. Putting was good. I hit a lot of fairways as that’s what I’ve been working on before this week.

“If I can keep it straight and putt like this, I will give myself chances tomorrow. Four under par should be no problem there as well. Of course you don’t have much room to miss. Serapong is not a course which is impossible. You need to get off to a good start and keep it going to get a four or five under.”

Y.E. Yang, Asia’s first Major winner, and PGA Tour player Daniel Chopra of Sweden, were charging up the leaderboard on six under after 13 and 15 holes respectively also on the Tanjong Course.