GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) -Ryder Cup hopefuls Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie had encouraging opening rounds in the Johnnie Walker Championship on Thursday.
Clarke shot a 1-under 72 and Montgomerie had a 74 on The Centenary Course at Gleneagles, where Frenchman Gregory Havret took the first-round lead with a 68.
Nick Dougherty had a 73 to start a late bid to rise from 14th in the standings to the top 10 who qualify automatically. His round contained five birdies and five bogeys on the windy 7,320-yard course with unpredictable greens after recent rain.
Two who could be ousted from the leading 10 on Sunday had mixed fortunes. Ninth-placed Soren Hansen shot a 2-under 71, while Oliver Wilson, 10th, had a 76.
Justin Rose, eighth and at slight risk, shot 73.
Martin Kaymer, 11th, also shot 76. Ross Fisher, 13th, recorded a 72 as the late battle for places on the team heated up.
Ian Poulter, 12th, and Paul Casey, 16th, are playing in Boston this week, both also hoping for wild-card callups from captain Nick Faldo.
Europe defends the Cup from Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla, outside Louisville, Kentucky.
Clarke, who has five Ryder Cup appearances and is fresh off a victory in last week's Dutch Open, said he almost convinced himself on Wednesday that he loved this course.
"One under was a good score today with the wind and the soft greens," said the Northern Irishman, who is 17th on the list.
Lee Westwood, his old Cup partner, shot 72 and criticized the greens, saying officials should "rip them up and redo them all."
Montgomerie, who doubles as the chairman of the tournament, conceded there was a problem.
"I think that some greens drain better than these, there's no question," he said. "So we'll have to look into that at a future date."
