Monty snaps at snapper after dark days return

(EPA)

Colin Montgomerie struggled to stay in touch yesterday as German Marcel Siem and England's Graeme Storm turned on the style at the Andalucian Open here.

Playing his 500th European Tour event as a professional, Montgomerie was only one behind fellow Scot Chris Doak after an opening 67, but Europe's new Ryder Cup captain managed only a level-par 72 on his return and, with Doak taking 73, it was all change at the top. Siem scored 67 to reach nine under and Storm a 66 to be only one behind along with France's Jean-François Lucquin.

After mixing five birdies with five bogeys, the last of them on the 18th when he failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker, the eight-time European No 1 displayed his disappointment by declining a request for a television interview.

Having spoken the day before of how much more relaxed he was on the course following his Ryder Cup appointment, there was also an incident when he felt the need to have words with a photographer as his round threatened to fall apart. Then came four birdies in the final six holes, but two more bogeys left him far from happy.

The key to Siem's week is that he has managed not to lose his temper so far. "I think I will never change completely, but I am pretty calm at the moment," said the 28-year-old, who even kept his cool when three-putting the last for bogey.

"I said to my caddie that I feel like Retief Goosen – I don't have any emotions."

Storm is happy to be finding his form again, after having his clubs stolen in Dubai last month. "I was watching Liverpool against Chelsea on TV. At 10.30pm they were still there, and at 10.45 gone. I put in a police report, but somebody is enjoying playing with them in the sunshine in Dubai. There was a two-iron I'd had for years, a lob wedge specially made for me and a new driver that I loved. It was a massive loss."