Colin Montgomerie battled back from early trouble to remain in contention at the UBS Hong Kong Open with a first-round one-under-par 69.

The Scot birdied the first hole at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling on Thursday but followed up with a bogey on the second hole and a double-bogey seven on the next.

“Two over after three was not a great start,” admitted the eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner. “So it is nice to get back into red figures which is OK at the end of the day.

“That is it for me, really, nothing much to report. The media would be far better off writing about the leaders!”

Monty certainly had his adventures on the 551-yard, par-five third. His tee shot found the trees, forcing him to chip out, and then his third shot landed in a greenside bunker. He needed two shots to escape the bunker and two-putted to close out the hole.

“I took that seven on the third. If I had made a four there I would have shot 66,” he said. “But it’s no big deal, three more rounds to go and so there is nothing wrong, three 65s and you never know.”

Montgomerie said he was enjoying the UBS Hong Kong Open. “Everything is fine,” he said.

“The course is dry and fast-running and the greens are good. It is a lovely tournament and a lovely atmosphere. The crowds will be bigger at the weekend and I’m looking forward to it.”