Golf: Montgomerie's return

COLIN MONTGOMERIE, ready to make an assault on the US Open next week, was all smiles yesterday after bouncing back from 'a real low point' in his career in less than a week. Montgomerie is joint second in the Honda Open in Hamburg, four shots behind the leader, Rodger Davis of Australia, after a second successive round of 69 for a six-under-par aggregate of 138.

Five days ago Montgomerie was shocked in the Belgian Open at Knokke-le-Zoute when he led by two shots going into the final round, in which he shot a 77 and finished joint third, one stroke behind the winner, Nick Faldo. But yesterday, after playing well for two days, he said: 'I'm glad I've got my form back so quickly. Last Sunday was a waste, a big, big waste.

'The US Open is the number one right now, but I would love to win here. That would give me a big boost, especially after last week.'

Montgomerie, who had three birdies and 15 pars in a consistent round, is one of six Europeans in the field who are heading for the US Open at Oakmont next week; six, that is, if Ian Woosnam is fit.

Woosnam, who birdied three of the last six holes for a 71 and a 144 total, has back trouble and has been uncertain whether he will make the American trip.

'My back was a lot looser today but I'm still not playing well,' Woosnam said. 'As for the US Open it's still not 100 per cent. I might not make a decision until Wednesday, but I'm still hoping to fly out on Sunday.'

HONDA OPEN (Hamburg) Leading second-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 134 R Davis (Aus) 66 68. 138 C Montgomerie 69 69; A Coltart 69 69; P Broadhurst 69 69. 139 P Lawrie 68 71; J Lomas 73 66; R Allenby (Aus) 72 67. 140 S Field 71 69; M Lanner (Swe) 72 68; C Mason 71 69; D Gilford 70 70; G Hjertstedt (Swe) 69 71. 141 M Farry (Fr) 72 69; D Hospital (Sp) 69 72; M-A Jimenez (Sp) 70 71; G Ralph 70 71; D A Russell 72 69; P Fulke (Swe) 70 71. 142 S Grappasonni (It) 68 74; G Manson 72 70; D J Russell 74 68; S Tinning (Den) 75 67; I Palmer (SA) 71 71; B Marchbank 70 72; M Davis 71 71; B Langer (Ger) 70 72; M Miller 76 67; E O'Connell 71 71; R Berhorst (Ger) 70 72; U Zilg (Ger) 68 74. 143 T Johnstone (Zim) 70 73; R Alvarez (Arg) 73 70; J Robson 69 74; S Van Vuuren (SA) 72 71; M Tunnicliff 74 69; M Gronberg (Swe) 73 70; S Luna (Sp) 71 72; R Lee 72 71; A Cejka (Ger) 72 71; R Claydon 73 70; A Hare 73 70; O Sellberg (Swe) 71 72; A Gillner (Swe) 74 69; P Moloney (Aus) 71 72. 144 J Rivero (Sp) 73 71; G J Brand 75 69; D R Jones 74 70; J Quiros (Sp) 72 72; A Binaghi (It) 74 70; I Woosnam 73 71; C Moody 73 71; B Malley (US) 75 69; M Mouland 73 71; M Besanceney (Fr) 71 73; A Sherborne 76 68; M McNulty 69 75; M Harwood (Aus) 73 71; F Regard (Fr) 72 72; T Gogele (Ger) 73 71; J Robinson 73 71; I Gervas (Sp) 73 71.