Colin Montgomerie celebrated his 500th European Tour event as a professional by carding a 67 to lie just one stroke off the Andalucia Open first-round lead on Thursday. Fellow Briton Chris Doak overhauled Montgomerie when the 31-year-old rookie signed for a 66 late in the day but the eight times European number one was still delighted with his effort on his notable day. “I've been given a few gifts to celebrate my 500 but the best gift was a 67,” 2010 Ryder Cup captain Montgomerie told reporters after matching the five-under-par scores of countryman Steven O'Hara and Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin. Spaniard Juan Parron was also in a tie for second place. “This was a third 67 in my last three tournaments so things are looking up,” said Montgomerie. “I was thinking about my 500 on the way round a lot, about my three PGA (Championship) wins (at Wentworth), my order of merits, even how far I've walked in that time.” Montgomerie, who has slid to 137th in the world rankings, reiterated his belief that the captaincy can only help his golf. “People say being captain will hurt my game and I think just the opposite, it's going to improve my game,” said the Scot. “I putted really well today. When I only take around 25 putts I'm always going to shoot something like a 67. It's nice to show I can still compete at 45.” Montgomerie said he would speak to Jose Maria Olazabal on Friday after the Spaniard denied this week he had agreed to be a 2010 Ryder Cup vice captain. Olazabal's remarks contradicted the Scot, who earlier said the twice US Masters champion had confirmed he would be one of his deputies in Wales if he failed to make the team as a player. One of the players two strokes off the pace was tournament players' chairman Thomas Bjorn, whose committee appointed Montgomerie to the Cup captaincy. Bjorn bogeyed the last two holes but was pleased with a return to form after neck and back injuries and suffering an ailing swing. The 30-year-old Dane, without a win for nearly three years, has taken a leaf out of world number one Tiger Woods's book to get his game back on track. Leader Doak, last year's Scottish ‘Tartan Tour' number one, cited “warming up” by playing on a mini-tour in Arizona before this event for his career-best European Tour score.
