A NOTORIOUSLY difficult event rewarded one of its most ardent admirers, when Colin Montgomerie claimed the first round lead in the US Open at Congressional CC yesterday.

With a sparkling, five-under-par 65, the big Scot went a stroke clear of his closest challengers, Hal Sutton and Steve Stricker, from the host country.

There was a decidedly curious climax to Montgomerie's splendid effort. As he stood on the green at the short 18th, content to two-putt for a closing par, leaden skies began to spit rain. And the watersnake appeared.

Ironically, the six-foot reptile, which settled on the walkway to the right of the putting surface, actually helped Montgomerie's cause. "It attracted so much attention that it took the pressure off me," he said with a smile.

Tiger Woods had no such relief from throngs of spectators as he negotiated this punishing layout in decidedly ragged fashion, on the way to a 74. Having reached the turn in 34, he went on to card sixes at the 11th (double-bogey) and the 15th (bogey) in a depressing homeward journey of 40.

The manner of his finish, however, caused most pain to the Masters champion, who is pursuing the second leg of the elusive Grand Slam. Among other things, it taught him that words can come back to haunt a player.

Only a few days ago, Woods said of the par-three finish: "If you have a lead going to the last hole, it's pretty good. All you have to do is hit an iron to the middle of the green, two-putt and get out of there." Things didn't quite work out that way.

Woods was the picture of dejection while carding a double-bogey there, after he sent his tee-shot to a watery grave. And this was the opening round ... In the event, words from Woods were not easily come by, when approached by the media afterwards.

Eventually, he told a radio interviewer: "I played well early on, but somehow hit some bad shots on the back side and didn't get the putts I needed to make. But I'm hitting it well. I need to get off to a good start tomorrow and hopefully I'll be able to keep it going."

Meanwhile, the notion that Congressional was tailor-made for the game's power players, became increasingly difficult to sustain. Mark McNulty, a relatively short hitter, had a stunning homeward journey of 30, including birdies at four of the last five holes, in an admirable 67.

Tom Lehman, who has led this event at the 54-hole stage for the last two years, matched that figure while playing in the same three-ball as Woods and the defending champion, Steve Jones. "Conditions were absolutely ideal - couldn't have been better," said the reigning British Open champion, who birdied the 10th, 15th-and 16th in a homeward journey of 32.

Jack Nicklaus, appearing in his 150th successive major championship, produced a strong finish of birdie, par, par for a round of 73. There were, in fact, three birdies in the Bear's round and each of them brought resounding cheers from the huge galleries.

Though the scoring may not have been brilliant, it remained a memorable day for the Nicklaus clan insofar as 28-year-old son Gary, making his debut in the championship, also shot a 73.

In describing his liking for US Open courses, Montgomerie claimed that a stern test appealed to him. "The Irish Open at Druids Glen last year was a tough examination but I managed to win there," he said. Indeed he will have the opportunity of doing so again when he defends the title next month.

Meanwhile, the big Scot did little wrong in a round of exemplary precision. For instance, the only fairway he missed was the sixth, where he still succeeded in saving a priceless par by hitting an eight-iron third shot of 157 yards within inches of the hole.

He also hit 16 greens in regulation and had a total of 29 putts, seven of them singles. But the most revealing aspect of his round was the fact that he never once used the driver. Montgomerie had more than sufficient length in a three wood that he hits between 265 and 285 yards, to cope comfortably with all the driving holes. So much for a murderously long course!

"Accuracy is more important than length here," he said afterwards. The point was illustrated by the fact that a four-iron approach set up a birdie at the 466-yard 10th, where he hit the three-wood off the tee. And he also birdied the 415-yard 11th, which he reduced to a three-wood, wedge and 15-foot putt.

There was only one stumble, at the 480-yard 17th where he blocked his approach into a greenside trap on the right and failed to get up and down.

He wasn't unduly concerned about the bogey and was totally content to make a solid, two-putt par at the last, despite the distraction of the snake.

Montgomerie has previously shot 65 in the US Open, on the second day at Oakmont in 1994 when, in the company of Loren Roberts, he eventually lost a play-off for the title to Ernie Els. But he rates this a better performance, despite a par of 71 at the Pittsburgh venue.

Jose-Maria Olazabal, returning to the event for the first time since 1994, shot an admirable 71 on a physically demanding course. His three-birdie round, that also included four bogeys, has given the resilient Spaniard a fine chance to make the cut for the first time since 1991, when he was tied eighth behind Payne Stewart at Hazeltine.