Montgomerie out due to bad back

Colin Montgomerie pulled out of yet another tournament today citing back trouble. Montgomerie withdrew after nine holes of his second round in the NEC World Championship at Sahalee Country Club. He was four over par and joint 66th of the 78 players at the time. Montgomerie scratched from the English Open at the Forest of Arden in June last year when back trouble flared and then pulled out of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth at the start of this season.

As for those still in the tournament, the American Steve Lowery birdied four of the first five holes and became joint leader with the South African Retief Goosen. At eight under they were two clear of Sergio Garcia, Davis Love and Fred Funk, who qualified for the event only on Sunday.

Darren Clarke, joint third overnight, drove under a bush at the second and scored six there. He was four under after four and down to joint 12th.

Lee Westwood, however, continued to rebuild his confidence. Although he too took six on the second, it followed a 12-foot opening birdie putt and he proceeded to birdie the next two. At five under he was up to joint sixth along with Justin Rose, who paired with Clarke and Phil Mickelson.

The former European No1, who in 15 months has slumped from fourth in the world to 144th, said: "This is another positive step towards getting my game together again. I don't think you lose your ability to play once you've reached a high level."

The world No 1 Tiger Woods was four-under with two to play, then dumped a six-iron into water on the short 17th for a double bogey before coming back with a birdie putt of 18 feet at the last. "I was not exactly in the best frame of mind after 17, but it's always nice to end on a birdie," said the Masters and US Open champion, trying to win this title for a fourth successive time.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NEC INVITATIONAL (Sahalee CC, Washington) Leading first-round scores (US unless stated): 65 T Izawa (Japan), R Goosen (SA). 66 D Love, P Mickelson, D Clarke (GB). 67 J Rose (GB), S Lowery, K P erry. 68 F Funk, T Bjorn (Den), R Mediate, L Westwood (GB), C DiMarco, S Garcia (Sp), V Singh (Fiji), C Perks (NZ), P Azinger, M Gogel, T Woods. 69 G Norman (Aus), D Toms, M Weir (Can), S Maruyama (Japan), J Coceres (Arg), L Mattiace, R Allenby (Aus), P Fulke (Swe). Selected: 71 C Montgomerie (GB), E Els (SA), J M Olazabal (Sp). 72 P Harrington (Ire), C Parry (Aus), G McDowell (GB). 73 N Fasth (Swe), P Lawrie (GB), J Daly.