Monty's world remains gloomy on course as well

Dubai: No man can ignore the loss of £8 million (Dh52 million) in a divorce settlement, particularly when he is a moody, broody character.

And sure enough, Colin Montgomerie carried his troubles on to the golf course in Dubai yesterday and made a horrendous start to the £1.4 million Dubai Desert Classic.

Montgomerie hit into the rough, found a bunker and saw his ball sink beneath the surface of a small lake as he plunged to four over par after only five holes of the first round. Still four-over starting for home, he was a massive 10 shots behind Retief Goosen of South Africa.

Monty, the 42-year-old Surrey-based Scot, was a late arrival at the tournament, having been detained in London while a settlement was agreed in his divorce from Eimear, his wife of 11 years and mother of the couple's three children.

However, any thoughts he entertained of boosting his considerably depleted bank balance by winning the first prize of £225,000 quickly evaporated in the desert heat.

Montgomerie was in trouble right from the start, pitching into greenside rough at his first hole, the 549 yards par-five 10th, and then missing a seven-foot putt for par. At the next, a 169-yard par three, the European No1 pulled his tee shot into a bunker and, while he got out to four feet, he missed a relatively easy putt to go two-over.

Montgomerie's drive on the 434-yard par four 14th was a simple error of judgment.

While playing partners Nick Dougherty and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain took account of a sharp dog-leg left Monty hit straight with the result that his ball skipped off a slope and into water.

Having dropped out he pitched over trees and over the green.

Then, having left a poor wedge to the pin 14ft short, he missed the putt to card a double bogey six.