European Tour: A bullish Colin Montgomerie declared his intention to push hard for victory in the Austrian Open after a four-under-par opening round of 67 left him just two off the lead.

Also delighted with his day's play was Waterville player David Higgins, whose eagle at the 15th lifted him up the leaderboard as he too signed for a 67, four under par.

A five-birdie burst on the back nine helped Kilkenny's Gary Murphy to a 68, while Stephen Browne shot a one-under par 70.

Paul McGinley, playing with Montgomerie, finished with a level-par 71 as he birdied the ninth to make up for dropping shots at the 18th, fifth and eighth.

His other birdies came at the 15th and short sixth, where he hit his tee shot inside 10 feet.

It wasn't a great day at the office, however, for Athlone's Colm Moriarty (75) or Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey (77).

Montgomerie has been through a mini-slump in the last couple of months but fourth place last week at the Celtic Manor Wales Open lifted his spirits.

And the fact he knows the Fontana course just outside Vienna very well, being an ambassador for the club, only boosted his confidence coming into the tournament.

Even an early bogey - when he three-putted the 13th, his fourth hole of the day - could not shake him and he responded with five birdies to earn a share of sixth place.

"There is a great chance for me to win now. Hopefully, I can take it," said the 42-year-old.

"That proves I am getting back into things and I am determined to do so as I had a poor March and April. Let's hope I have an Indian summer like I did last year."

Austria's Markus Brier gave the home crowds plenty to cheer after holing his seven-iron tee shot at the 158-yard 11th to win a 17,487 Citroen.

That sparked his round into life and a five-under-par back nine lifted him into the lead on six under, one ahead of a group of four which included England's Oliver Whiteley and Simon Dyson, Jorge Bendetti of Colombia and German Sven Strüver, who carded 66s.