Montgomerie blown away by German onslaught

Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka fired Germany to the top of the leaderboard at the end of the opening round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup yesterday. The pair combined well in the fourballs on the Olazabal course at a blustery Mission Hills Golf Club here to secure a one-stroke lead with a 10-under-par 62.

Australia are in second place at nine under after Brendan Jones and Richard Green combined to card a 63 with Spain, the United States and Canada tied on eight under. Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth, looking to stage a successful defence of the trophy, finished six shots off the pace after a 68, while England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher were a shot further behind.

A disappointing double bogey on the last hole meant that Ireland dropped from second to tied sixth at seven under. Graeme McDowell and the experienced Paul McGinley had combined for seven birdies with McDowell firing an eagle three on the par-five 11th.

"You don't expect to be making bogeys, certainly not double bogeys," McDowell said . "We are both disappointed with the finish but there is a lot of good golf out there."

The Welsh pair of Bradley Dredge and Richard Johnson returned a disappointing 69 to share 20th place. Play switches to a foursomes format today, before alternating again in the final two rounds.

Germany got their bid for a second World Cup win in three years off to a fine start as Kaymer hit three successive birdies before Cejka added another on the par-four fourth. Kaymer then fired a superb eagle three on the seventh, holing a putt from over 65 feet before picking up another shot on the ninth to ensure Germany reached the turn at seven under.

Kaymer added another two birdies coming home while Cejka weighed in with one more. Kaymer said. "Ten under is a very good score because it was windy out there."

A late charge saw Australia climb the leaderboard to take sole possession of second place. Jones and Green had managed just three birdies between them on the outward nine but turned on the style after the turn.

65

The length in feet of the putt sunk by Germany's Martin Kaymer yesterday for an eagle three.