Montgomerie suffers as Elson makes late charge

Colin Montgomerie predicted the heat would be a telling factor here at the Malaysian Open, and so it proved as the Scot wilted on his back nine to finish the opening round one over par and seven shots off the lead.

Among the leaders was Britain's Jamie Elson, who was aided by previous experience of the Saujana Golf and Country Club. The 22-year-old charged to the top of the leaderboard late in the day, closing his round with three consecutive birdies to join South Africa's Martin Maritz, , the tallest player on the tour, and the Australian Terry Price on six-under-par.

The trio led by a shot from Malaysia's Airil-Rizman Zahari and were two clear of a 10-strong group on four-under, including Ireland's Paul McGinley and the Welshman Stephen Dodd.

Elson played here for England in the 2002 Eisenhower Trophy and despite having his practice time cut by a bout of food poisoning, he walked the back nine this morning as a refresher and went out to shoot a 66. "It's a great course but course management is key around here. I've played here a few times before and that certainly helped," he said.

After his first 13 holes, it appeared that Montgomerie was set to feature among the leading names too as he sat on a healthy four under par.

However, the 40-year-old then scored a double-bogey five on the treacherous par-three fifth. His first putt disappeared off the green. He chipped back on but his next putt lipped out.

Troubled by the oppressive conditions, Montgomerie went on to bogey three of his final four holes and signed for his 73 red-faced and distressed. "I finished with five fives, that's all there is to say," he said. "The heat got to me. I'm going off to find some headache pills and lie down."

Montgomerie was not alone in suffering at the hands of the treacherous fifth and its difficult pin position. Forty-four of the field dropped one shot there, 12 others double-bogeyed, while three carded triple-bogey sixes. Maritz later described it as "borderline impossible".

McGinley was warned of the perils by Andrew Coltart, one of those to card a double-bogey five. The Irishman parred the hole, but only by deliberately underhitting his first putt in case it slid by the hole, down the slope and off the green.

Malaysian Open (Saujana G&CC, Malay) Leading first-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 66 T Price (Aus), J Elson, M Maritz (SA). 67 Airil-Rizman Zahari (Malay). 68 S Dodd, G Hanrahan (US), M Erlandsson (Swe), C Plaphol (Thai), M Ilonen (Fin), A Kang (US), K Eriksson (Swe), P McGinley, J M Lara (Sp), R Karlsson (Swe). 69 M Fraser (Aus), R Jan Derksen (Neth), G Norquist (US), T Levet (Fr), D Howell, J Hepworth, B Kennedy (Aus), Lee Sung-Man (S Kor), P Harrington, S Othman (Malay), C Rocca (It). 70 S Walker, P Marksaeng (Thai), R McEvoy, D Dixon, M A Jimenez (Sp), E Lee (Aus), M Lemesurier, T Wiratchant (Thai), Lin Wen-Tang (Taiw), J Bickerton, C Williams, D McGrane. Selected: 72 A Coltart. 73 C Montgomerie.