R1 LEADERBOARD -6 C Montgomerie (Sco) -3 T Woods, J Daly, M Calcavecchia, O Browne, S Garcia (Spa), D Howell (Eng), F Funk, I Poulter (Eng), V Singh (Fij), C Campbell, R Pampling (Aus) -2 D Toms, Z Johnson, A Scott (Aus), B Jobe, J Furyk, S O'Hair (US unless stated)

The Scot, who won last weekend's Dunhill Links Championship, finished with a first round six-under par 64.

England's David Howell dropped a shot at the last to finish with a round of 67 to lie three behind Montgomerie.

Tiger Woods, who dropped a shot at the eighth - his penultimate hole - is also in a large group on three under.

Starting on the 10th, the seven-time European number one took advantage of one of only two par fives on the course with an opening birdie, and picked up another shot on the 12th.

I'm 42 now and supposed to be going downhill - it's nice to go the other way Colin Montgomerie

But his round sparked into life with three birdies in a row from the 16th and he finished on a high with another at the seventh.

Montgomerie's impressive round puts him well clear of his nearest rival for an eighth money list title, New Zealand's Michael Campbell.

The US Open champion has a �85,000 lead over Montgomerie but could only manage a one over par round of 71.

Monty clinches Dunhill Links title

The Scot has never won a strokeplay tournament in America and admitted his victory at St Andrews last weekend has given him a boost.

"I would love to win over here, there is no secret about that," he said.

"Sunday gave me a lot of confidence. It was nice to win again, especially at St Andrews and I came over here with a lot more self-esteem and confidence than I had and it proved it here.

It would be great for him to win but I can see a poor round spoiling it for him From DN Have your say on Five Live

"If I had finished third or fourth on Sunday I would not have shot 64 here. It's just the confidence factor, it's been a huge boost for my career.

"I'm 42 now and supposed to be going downhill. It's nice to go the other way."

Woods, bidding for his 11th victory in 21 WGC events, birdied two of the opening three holes and despite missing the green and dropping a shot at the mammoth par-three eighth, he picked up two more shots on the back nine.

"Looking at the pin positions it is a pretty good score," he said. "For the first day they did a pretty good job of setting up the golf course."

USPGA champion Phil Mickelson reached three under after 10 but dropped four shots in three holes and finished with a one over 71.