Allenby in the Alps

Golf

Colin Montgomerie is out to maintain his assault on the summit of the European rankings with victory in the Swiss Alps this weekend. The Scot struggled to joint ninth place on the dodgy greens in the British Masters at Collingtree Park last week, and will be hoping for improved fortunes in the European Masters which starts today at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Montgomerie, aiming to finish as the European No 1 for the fourth successive year, needs a win to go back to the top of the Order of Merit.

Ian Woosnam, an absentee this week, leads the money list with pounds 510,258 - pounds 68,000 ahead of second-placed Montgomerie with the Australian, Robert Allenby, who coped best with the Collingtree greens to emerge victorious, a further pounds 35,000 behind.

Montgomerie and Allenby are playing together for the first two rounds as they tackle a course high up in the mountains - 5,000 feet above sea level.