LOCH LOMOND, July 8: Two weeks before turning 50, veteran Eduardo Romero shared the first round lead in the Scottish Open when he shot a six-under 65 on Thursday. It tied him with Welshman Phillip Price and Spain's Jose Manuel Lara.
It also convinced him that the senior tour can wait as he continues to rack up big money on the regular tour. Romero puts his continued strong showing down to yoga, which he took up four years ago to help him relax and a special one-iron - which he hits between 260 - 270 yards.
"It's very long," he laughed. Price, trying to get back on to the Ryder Cup team and get into the top 25 in the world rankings, admitted that when he first played Loch Lomond he considered never ever returning.
But a second place finish last year and his opening six-under on Thursday, have convinced him he can play the course. Lara, who finished tied fifth in last week's European Open, arrived here feeling good with his game.
Even a bogey on the final hole could not dampen Colin Montgomerie's pleasure at seeing his name back on a leader board. Although the bogey dropped him back to two-under par 69 for his first round in the Scottish Open and four back of the leaders, Montgomerie remained upbeat.
The Scot, playing with defending champion Ernie Els and Lee Westwood, said before he teed off that for the first two days he wanted to finish ahead of his playing partners. "The first part accomplished," said Montgomerie after Els shot an opening one-under 70 and Westwood a level par 71. "Now to keep it going tomorrow."
Montgomerie got it to four-under at one stage and was alone atop the leader board. Montgomerie blamed his two dropped shots over the closing five holes on his three wood - at one time the most trusted weapon in his bag.
Ever since retiring his favourite three wood because of contractual problems, the Scot has been desperately searching for a good replacement. Els, in his first outing since last month's final round collapse in the US Open, admitted his round should have been several shots better.
"I have to be happy with a round of 70 but I could have made a few more putts. I felt like I left a couple of putts out there but I am happy with that, first round back and under par," said the world number two.
Masters champion Phil Mickelson, who preferred to play Troon on Wednesday in preparation for next week's Open rather than play a practice round here, opened with a one-over 72. The American said he had been impressed by Troon after his first look.
Leading first round scores:
65 Jose Manuel Lara (Spain), Phillip Price, Eduardo Romero (Argentina)
66 Emanuele Canonica (Italy)
67 Christian Cevaer (France), Kenneth Ferrie, Marcus Fraser (Australia), Philip Golding, Mark Roe, Peter Hedblom, Tom Lehman (U.S.), Ian Poulter
68 Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Tim Clark (South Africa), Terry Price (Australia), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium), Stephen Gallacher, Ricardo Gonzalez (Argentina), Gary Murphy (Ireland), Patrik Sjoland (Sweden) 69 Roger Chapman, Robert Coles, Gregory Havret (France), Damien McGrane (Ireland), Colin Montgomerie, Anthony Wall, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spain), Robert-Jan Derksen (Netherlands), Nick Dougherty, Soren Hansen (Denmark), James Kingston (South Africa), Maarten Lafeber (Netherlands), Peter Lonard (Australia), Gary Orr, Marcel Siem (Germany). -Reuters