European Tour Wales Open: Colin Montgomerie felt he was "in danger of becoming competitive again" after yesterday's first round of the Celtic Manor Wales Open.
Montgomerie carded a flawless five-under-par 67 at Wentwood Hills to lie just two shots off the lead held by England's David Howell.
It was comfortably the best round the 40-year-old has completed since the news he was separating from his wife, Eimear, "with a view to divorce" last month.
The Scot pulled out of an event in China when the announcement was made and finished 128th out of 156 at the Deutsche Bank Open a fortnight ago, his worst performance since his first European Tour event in 1988.
But the former European number one looked close to his best with five birdies and no bogeys to claim a share of third place in the €2,250,000 event.
"I am in grave danger of becoming competitive again," said Montgomerie. "I want to be and I am trying my best. It was the first time I have played a round of golf without a bogey since the troubles, I suppose, and the world is a much better place when that happens."
Montgomerie birdied the second and eighth to reach the turn in 34 and picked up three more birdies, coming home to lift his name on to the leaderboard for the first time in recent weeks.
"That's when you feel the competitive juices again, that was a good positive sign," added Montgomerie, who has slipped out of the world top 50 and has to qualify for next month's British Open at his home course of Troon.
"It was good to get under par early on and build on that. One round does not make a summer but it is the best I have done for a while.
"Wentworth had a lot of memories for me last week and that was quite difficult, but this tournament does not have the same memories so I felt good.
"I also enjoyed playing with Ian Poulter and Paul Lawrie, I have played a lot of golf with Paul (including the 1999 Ryder Cup).
"The group I play in is quite important for me at this stage and I was delighted with that draw. The chat is light-hearted, which is what I need."
Best of the Irish was Gary Murphy, who included five birdies and an eagle on his way to a four-under-par 68.
(Brit unless stated, Irish in bold)
65 - D Howell
66 - M Siem (Ger), E Canonica (Ita)
67 - C Cevaer (Fra), S O'Hara, C Montgomerie
68 - J Moseley (Aus), M Ilonen (Fin), N Sato (Jpn), D Carter, R Karlsson (Swe), G Murphy, S Little
69 - M Maritz (Rsa), S Struver (Ger), P Hanson (Swe), MA Martin (Spa), B Lane, T Levet (Fra), M Tunnicliff, F Andersson (Swe), S Khan, S Kjeldsen (Den), D Lynn, P Casey
70 - W Bennett, G Orr, S Luna (Spa), J Lomas, P O'Malley (Aus), R Coles, M Vibe-Hastrup (Den), P Nyman (Swe), J Kingston (Rsa), P Baker, J Bickerton, S Dodd, N O'Hern (Aus), A Coltart, P McGinley, D Dixon
71 - R Sterne (Rsa), M Erlandsson (Swe), G Evans, M Foster, I Woosnam, P Golding, S Gallacher, M Pendaries (Fra), R Green (Aus), P Lawrie, J-F Remesy (Fra), L Oosthuizen (Rsa), S Wakefield, M Jonzon (Swe), S Jeppesen (Swe), I Poulter, R-J Derksen (Ned), T Price (Aus), M Lemesurier, P Sjoland (Swe), B Austin, A Oldcorn
72 - J Sandelin (Swe), R Gonzalez (Arg), M Campbell (Nzl), G Havret (Fra), P Broadhurst, D Borrego (Spa), J Edfors (Swe), M Eliasson (Swe), M Olander (Swe), J Hepworth, C Rodiles (Spa), B Dredge, P Price, P Lawrie, J Spence, A Wall, J Clement (Swi), M Fraser (Aus), R Chapman, N Dougherty, F Delamontagne (Fra)
73 - L Thompson, R McEvoy, I Giner (Spa), P Marantz (Aus), P Fowler (Aus), J-F Lucquin (Fra), C Williams, K Ferrie, G McDowell, D Park, J Haeggman (Swe), L Westwood, M Lafeber (Ned), C Hanell (Swe), D Robertson, S Scahill (Nzl), T Johnstone (Zim), N Colsaerts (Bel), JM Carriles (Spa), JM Arruti (Spa), R Russell, G Brand Jnr
74 - B Mason, J Huldahl (Den), R Muntz (Ned), M Wiegele (Aut), C Gane, D Gaunt (Aus), P Hedblom (Swe), B Davis, A Forsyth, S Lyle, M Cort, S Fernandez (Arg), M Roe
75 - C Rocca (Ita), M Blackey, H Stenson (Swe), M Brier (Aut), L Bond, M Nilsson (Swe), A Marshall, JM Lara (Spa), S Webster, C Monasterio (Arg), S Manley
76 - T Whitehouse, C Schwartzel (Rsa), R Rashell (US), D McGrane, D Botes (Rsa)
77 - I Harrison, D Gilford, J Berendt (Arg), H Otto (Rsa), M Plummer, M Mackenzie, J Elson
78 - W Ormsby (Aus), R Rock, J Peters
79 - I Pyman, M Farry (Fra), K Eriksson (Swe), A McLean
82 - B Banks
