Alarm bells silenced as Montgomerie rises again

You know, after the few months he has endured - what with his marriage difficulties being paraded outside the family home and his golf game discovering chinks that he didn't know existed - it really does the old heart good to see Colin Montgomerie stomping around a golf course as if he really belongs on it.

Okay, so the jeering and alcohol-induced ribaldry that has so often accompanied his visits to previous US Open venues is absent here; perhaps due to Oklahoman hospitality. But, when he is not moaning about a 5 a.m. alarm call, there is a sense that the Montgomerie of old is back with us.

No, this Montgomerie, woken from his slumbers at such an ungodly hour of the morning to recommence his first round, is smiling and has a happy-go-lucky attitude that doesn't normally sit on the shoulders of a player who detests signing a card for an over-par round, which is what he had to do before grabbing a quick bite and heading out again for the second round yesterday.

The Scot - who has always seemed the one most likely to break the European hoodoo in this event that stretches back 31 years to Tony Jacklin's win at Hazeltine in 1970 - wasn't even sure that he would be able to play in the 101st US Open when hindered by a back injury last week. Yet, here he is, large as life, and back in his customary position as among those leading the European challenge after rounds of 71 and 70 for one-over-par 141.

What's more, after the thunderstorms and grey skies that spoiled the opening day's play, Montgomerie wipes the sweat from his brow and professes to being happy that the cloud cover has broken and that the searing sunshine is back. "Physically I'm fine, the back is fine. And, to be honest, I'm a lot happier in this heat," he insisted. "It's the first time I have come to America and wanted some heat."

A week ago, he quit the English Open because of the back injury and had some intensive treatment in London before flying out to Tulsa in pursuit of a title that has twice slipped from his grasp.

More than any other championship, Monty is at home on tight USGA courses and, despite a hesitant start to his European Tour season, which has seen him without a win for over a year, we have seen extended glimpses of a game that is returning to the one that dominated the European Tour throughout the 1990s.

Montgomerie was among those up before dawn as the tournament attempted to play catch-up with itself after 90 players, reduced to 89 when Phil Price withdrew because of illness, failed to complete their rounds on Thursday.

"There were so many of us in the same hotel that we heard each other's alarm calls," he said of the rather bizarre dawn chorus.

Having negotiated the remaining eight holes of his first round in level par, Montgomerie was reminiscent of his old self in the second round. Precision driving, plenty of birdie chances and, between the scolds, enough holed putts for smiles through clenched teeth to applauding galleries.

"My game's 100 per cent better than it has been for the past five weeks. This is my 10th US Open and it is nice to make my 10th cut. That's a record that I'm proud of," he said.

"One over? Not bad, not great - but it is no disaster. I can win from there. If I hole some putts over the weekend I'll be in with a shout."

In previous US Opens, Montgomerie has been the butt of some raucous jeering from the galleries. This time, there has been no repeat. "The crowds have been super. Sometimes, when there are only 20 people following a match, they can be more of a distraction. Here, with over 30,000, you don't even notice them."

Now, all he needs to do is get the putter hot again . . . and who knows what might happen? The cheers, rather than the jeers, from the galleries may get even louder.