Els on fire as Monty struggles

Ernie Els was today scaling a peak of brilliance that left Colin Montgomerie with a mountain to climb in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

Els, the world number two who is seeking to consolidate his lead in the European Tour Order of Merit, raced to five under par after just 12 holes.

That was one shot behind clubhouse leader and defending champion Robert Karlsson of Sweden.

Montgomerie, bidding to put down an early marker on a place in Europe's next Ryder Cup team, could only manage a one under par 70 on a Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club course overlooked by snow-capped summits that include the mighty Matterhorn.

The Masters is the first tournament helping to shape the team that captain Bernhard Langer will take to Oakland Hills next September and Montgomerie, hero of a dramatic victory over the United States at the Belfry last year, was determined to put his name to the fore again.

However, a bogey at the par three 11th, combined with a failure to claim shots on the three par fives that were playing more like par fours, cost Montgomerie dear.

Els demonstrated how it could be done at the 632-yard par five ninth where the South African made a birdie after finding the front of the green in two. Already in on five under were veterans Mark McNulty of Zimbabwe and Argentina's Eduardo Romero. One shot further back on four under was Spain's Sergio Garcia and Swede Patrik Sjoland, who won a £5,000 gold watch for holing in one with a seven iron at the 176-yard par three eighth.