FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-5 P Lawrie (Sco), -4 G Havret (Fra), A Nilsson (Swe), S O'Hara (Sco), W Ormsby (Aus) Selected others: -1 JM Olazabal (Spa) +4 C Montgomerie (Sco) +10 T Bjorn (Den)

Lawrie was the last British winner of the Open in 1999

Scotland's Paul Lawrie fired a five-under-par 67 to lead after the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

One stroke back are Scot Steven O'Hara, France's Gregory Havret, Swede Ake Nilsson and Australian Wade Ormsby.

Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal is one under par, but European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie is four over after a disappointing 76.

The Scot has never missed four successive cuts on the European Tour.

But that fate is now staring him in the face after a round containing three birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys.

However, Montgomerie refused to blame the responsibility of the Ryder Cup captaincy for his current slump.

I've always wanted to work with [coach] Bob Torrance, but it's never been the right time. I think it's the right time now Paul Lawrie

"My golf was going downhill anyway," said the 46-year-old, who was appointed to the role in January and who has collapsed from 121st in the world at the start of the season to 232nd.

Without a top-10 finish for 14 months, Montgomerie added: "I didn't play well, obviously. I haven't been playing well all year, and it just continues - same again."

Lawrie was 97th on the money list going into the tournament and needs to be in the top 115 in November to save his card after 10 years of exemptions following his Open triumph at Carnoustie in 1999. He is without a win since the 2002 Wales Open.

Lawrie, still Britain's last winner of a major title, did not drop a stroke all day and the highlight was a 40-foot putt for an eagle on the long 9th.

At last month's Open he sought help from Padraig Harrington's coach Bob Torrance and since then has made the journey from Aberdeen to Largs - three hours each way - five or six times.

"It's been too long since I won," said Lawrie, 40. "I've always wanted to work with him, but it's never been the right time. I think it's the right time now."

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, playing for the first time in almost two months because of dizzy spells that led to him having a brain scan, crashed to a 10-over 82.

"That was even worse than I thought it would be," said the former Ryder Cupper. "I'm just feeling out of sorts.

"I wasn't dizzy out there, but I did get tired and being out of the game so long it was always going to be hard."

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