Khan revels in Celtic pleasure-dome

Welsh Open: Simon Khan, a 31-year-old from Essex, has stormed into the lead at the Wales Open with a course record of 61, 11 under par.

Khan's 14-under total of 130 places him two shots ahead of Paul Casey, who needed a 63 to keep his fellow Englishman within range.

Colin Montgomerie continued to find solace in his game and was on 135 after a 68 that was marred only by two fives to finish, the former a bogey, the latter a par at a hole that could be reached in two.

Peter Lawrie continued the low scoring with a 64 to join Montgomerie in third place on nine under.

The Dubliner, rookie of the year last season, went to the turn in 31 and then holed his second shot from 150 yards for an eagle on the par-four 10th.

Khan, in his third full season on the European Tour and lying a modest 76th on the Order of Merit, attracted little attention when he set off at 7.40 a.m., but his anonymity did not last long.

Five birdies and an eagle in the first six holes saw to that. It was all cameras, lights and action from then on and Khan did not wilt. He also birdied the eighth and ninth to go out in 27, nine under par, equalling the European Tour record for nine holes.

"We weren't sure if the score was right at first," said Casey. "The leaderboard said eight under through eight and we thought that had to be wrong. We were making friendly wagers among the group as to what Simon would shoot, and it was disappointing to see 14 under on the board after he had finished. It would have been nice to shoot something lower."

Not that Khan, who had to make do with a back nine of 34, two under par, after birdies at the 11th and 17th, was complaining.

"I feel fantastic," he said, beaming. "It's surprising how relaxed I was. When you are in that position, you don't know how you are going to react, but I felt great."

He arrived at the last needing an eagle three for a fabled 59, which would have made him the first player to break 60 on the European Tour. A poor drive into the rough meant he could not reach the green in two, but he was just short and tried to hole his pitch as those watching hoped they were about to witness a piece of golfing history.

The pitch was ordinary, scuttling 15 feet past and the putt for a 60 dribbled off line.

The Wentwood Hills course at Celtic Manor, 7,379 yards long, would not immediately spring to mind as a likely place to break the 60 barrier.

However, there was not much of a wind, the greens were soft and Khan's putter, new this week, was up to the job. He had 22 putts after undertaking some serious practice on the carpet at home on Sunday night, inspired by the performance of his friend Scott Drummond, who won the Volvo PGA Championship, and goaded by his wife, Lesley.

"I didn't really hole a putt at Wentworth," Khan explained, "and Lesley, who's pretty direct, said, 'Well, it's not going to get any better just sitting thinking about it'."

After Lawrie, next best of the Irish was Gary Murphy on five under after a 71. Paul McGinley was two shots further back after a 71, and Damien McGrane, with a 67, and Graeme McDowell, with a 70, showed their battling qualities to finish on one under par and just survive the cut.

Montgomerie's 68 was achieved despite being forced to drive home to London on Thursday evening after being told there was a leak in his new apartment.

Montgomerie only arrived back at the course at 2 a.m. and was up at 6 a.m. for his second round, but carded five birdies and just one bogey.

"Fortunately the leak stopped in my apartment but there was enough to cause a problem," said Montgomerie. "It was reported by the concierge of the apartments.

"But I will drive back again tonight, it gives me something to do."

Montgomerie, who has to go through qualifying for the British Open at his home course of Troon later this month, added: "It is nice to be on the leaderboard at halfway, I don't know how long it will last.

"I suppose if you told me at the start of the week I would be nine under at halfway I would have taken that and run off.

"I haven't putted particularly well really so if I can just get the ball rolling towards the hole a bit better I will have a chance. But it is nice to say at this stage I have a chance." Guardian Service