GLENEAGLES (Scotland), Aug 5: Colin Montgomerie’s hopes of recapturing the European number one spot were dashed on Thursday when he was forced to retire from the EPGA tournament after damaging his fingers. The Scotsman, playing for the first time since finishing second to Tiger Woods in the Open at St Andrews last month, bruised the fingers of his right hand when playing his second shot to the 18th, his ninth of the first round.

The withdrawal of the 42-year-old pre-tournament favourite overshadowed the first round which saw England’s Mark Foster take the lead with a four-under-par 68. Montgomerie, who will see a hand specialist in London, battled on for another four holes but was unable to grip the club and felt he had no option but to retire and seek treatment in the hope of being fit for next weeks US PGA Championship.

Australian Richard Green was left as the highest-ranked player - he is 50th in the world - but an opening 77 leaves him in danger of bowing out at halfway.

Paul Casey, Howell’s partner in the win over the Americans last September, showed a semblance of real form at long last.

After six successive missed cuts, Casey, a winner on the course four years ago, returned a 71. Foster, only 122nd on the order of merit and without a top-10 finish all year, made six birdies and two bogeys.

First round scores