Colin Montgomerie drew first blood against Corey Pavin at the Celtic Manor

By Peter Shuttleworth BBC Sport at the Celtic Manor

Corey Pavin may have found a welcome in the hillsides, but America's Ryder Cup captain couldn't find his ball in the Usk Valley.

The 49-year-old lost his tee shot in a Welsh woodland on the 15th as Pavin realised at first hand the potential pitfalls that lie in wait for his United States team when they try to retain their Ryder Cup crown next year.

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The ambitious American tried to drive over the trees at the dog-leg 377-yard par-four but lost his ball in the undergrowth - as well as the battle of the Ryder Cup captains at the Celtic Manor.

"It is a risk-reward hole," said Pavin. "It is probably not a hard shot to play but I made it look pretty hard."

Colin Montgomerie, Pavin's European Ryder Cup counterpart, had requested he stayed apart from his friendly enemy at this year's Wales Open.

But Monty might have enjoyed a wry smile watching Pavin fumble in the forest for almost 15 minutes before retaking his tee shot at the 15th hole, leading to a double-bogey six and in doing so surrendering the shoot-out of the Ryder Cup skippers.

Monty ultimately prevailed with a relatively steady two-under-par 69 compared to Pavin's one-over but insisted: "It doesn't really matter about him and I because we aren't competing next year.

A relaxed Montgomerie carded an opening 69 on the Ryder Cup course

"I'm not going to hit a shot in 16 months time, it is the assembled 12 guys on our team who will matter, not us, so I'm not looking at his score."

But bragging rights are everything - and Europe, looking to regain that treasured 17-inch trophy they lost for the first time in four attempts last year in Valhalla, are one up.

And the captain's own private battle is the main event here in Newport - this year's saving grace, in truth - as it is the tournament that is the mere sideshow.

The 10th Wales Open is arguably the weakest since its inaugural year of 2000.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, Wales Open winner in 2005, is the only man at Celtic Manor this weekend who also played in Europe's Ryder Cup defeat last year.

I said if I shoot 59 I will [do the full Monty]! Colin Montgomerie

Robert Karlsson, Oliver Wilson and Soren Hansen were due to play but withdrew injured at the 11th hour.

This year's competition seems like the dress rehearsal, but minus the cast.

Monty's moral victory over Pavin seemed unlikely early on.

Half-an-hour after the American skipper skewed his first tee shot into the rough on the right of the fairway, his European counterpart went one worse.

Montgomerie dragged his tee shot into a sand trap that was more canyon than bunker, forcing the eight-time European number one to take his second shot backward before moving eventually forward.

"Can we start again?" joked the jovial Monty to his playing partner, Anthony Wall.

Imagine his frustration when he found the beach on the fringe of the first green.

But Monty loves nothing more than an against-the-odds fightback.

The crowd cheered Europe's next talisman at every turn.

This course is pretty straightforward, there's not a lot of big secrets out there Corey Pavin

The sometimes-stroppy Scotsman's charm offensive kicked into over-drive en route to the first tee as he signed autographs, shook hands and shared banter with Monty's mob, who had lovingly prepared him a "Give us the full Monty" banner.

"I saw that placard. I said if I shoot 59 I will - thankfully I didn't," said Monty with a chuckle.

The two leaders will clearly play no part in the 38th Ryder Cup, but this first competitive test as Ryder Cup captains on the specially designed Twenty Ten course will give them both vital knowledge and an insight into how the course may play come 1 October next year.

And while Monty wants to play good golf here this week, he is also getting an idea where he could adapt 'his' course so Europe could benefit from their home advantage during the Ryder Cup.

Mark Hughes and Corey Pavin chew the fat during Wednesday's pro-am

"I do think about things Ryder Cup when I'm out there," he said.

"Like where the crowd might be or where certain things will happen. Of course I'm thinking 16 months ahead.

"I'm thinking about different run-offs on different greens, possible pin positions and how long the rough should be.

"But I'm trying not to get myself tied in knots, I have to be careful I don't over-analyse it.

"I just want good golf to prevail on a fair golf course, I don't want a controversial set-up."

Monty and Pavin now both have first-hand experience of the Twenty Ten's hidden, and not so hidden, dangers.

After his first competitive round on the Celtic Manor course, Pavin admitted: "It is important on this golf course to hit the fairway and keep the ball in play off the tee, it is very critical here.

"If you don't do that it is then hard to hit the greens and you'll have a lot of issues.

"This course is pretty straightforward, there's not a lot of big secrets out there, what you do out there is what you deserve.

"But if you do drive the ball well, you can attack some pins. This course is a good solid test of your game."

And as if a Ryder Cup legend needed it, Monty hopes a good performance on the host course will earn him more respect among his European peers when he returns for next year's showpiece.

"They'll want me to play!" he said.

Relax. He was joking.

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