SOTOGRANDE (Spain), Oct 27: An eagle-two at the eighth helped Colin Montgomerie put daylight between himself and European Order of Merit rival Michael Campbell on the opening day of the Volvo Masters here on Thursday.

Montgomerie finished with a four-under-par 67 to Campbell’s one-over 72. The two are playing together in the first two rounds as they fill the top two positions in the Order of Merit.

Sharing the lead with Montgomerie was last year’s winner Ian Poulter of England with US-based Englishman Luke Donald and Spanish duo Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal one stroke back on 68.

First round scores

67 - Ian Poulter, Colin Montgomerie

68 - Luke Donald, Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia

69 - Robert Karlsson, Steve Webster

70 - Gregory Havret, Paul Casey, Raphael Jacquelin, Maarten Lafeber, Bradley Dredge, Niclas Fasth, Henrik Stenson.—Agencies