Pairing of Langer and Montgomerie pays off

Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer yesterday carried on where they left off in last year's Ryder Cup on the opening day of the UBS Cup in Georgia.

The pair were unbeaten in three matches together at The Belfry, earning two-and-a-half points out of three and also then won their singles matches. It was, therefore, no surprise when the Rest of the World captain, Tony Jacklin, put them together in yesterday's foursomes as the visitors attempted to claim their first victory in the Ryder Cup-style event for players over-40. The decision paid off when they crushed the United States' Ray Floyd and Hale Irwin 5 and 3 to claim the first point.

Jacklin himself then earned the second minutes later, combining with Nick Faldo to beat the 74-year-old American captain Arnold Palmer and Rocco Mediate by one hole.

Montgomerie chipped in for birdie to win the second and par was good enough to claim the next as well after Irwin missed the green and a six-foot par putt. Further birdies at the seventh and eighth and a par on the ninth took them five up at the turn and it was not until the 14th that the American team won a hole, Floyd holing for birdie to keep the match alive.

It was only a temporary reprieve, however, and the victory was completed by a superb Langer bunker shot on the 15th.