Colin Montgomerie stepped up his quest to return to the world’s top 50, and secure a Masters Tournament spot, with a second round 65 to share second place with England’s Paul Casey and Korean Gwang-Soo Choi behind leader Alex Quiroz of Mexico in the TCL Classic in China.
Montgomerie’s seven under par round at Yalong Bay Golf Club, Sanya, Hainan Island, propelled him into a three way tie on 132, 12 under par, and two behind the Mexican ranked Number 707 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Currently 54th in the world, Montgomerie - who won the TCL Classic in 2002 before it bewcame jointly sanctioned between the Asian and European Tours - made no errors, carding five birdies and an eagle at the 13th on his way to joining Casey and Choi in second place. Casey, meanwhile, added a 68 to his opening 64 while Choi fired a second round 67.
Casey was unable to make his length and power tell on the inward half, missing out on birdie chance at the two par fives. However he birdied the third, seventh and tenth and eagled the ninth then collected another birdie at the17th.
Quiroz, who played in the World Golf Championships – World Cup in 2001, 2003 and 2004, started out on the Mexican Tour, where he won four titles. He joined the Canadian Tour and won the MTS Classic in his first season.
Playing in his first event in Asia after earning his Tour card in seventh place at the Qualifying School, has waited in frustration to make his long awaited debut.
“I couldn't get in to Malaysia and Singapore but I am very happy so far. Maybe some people think this is a surprise, but I know I am very capable of playing well" he said.
"It is a matter of trusting myself, trusting my game and trusting swing under pressure. I think I have the game to play in this company and now that I am putting better than I have ever before. It is a matter of being relaxed and being loose."
Choi, a two-time winner in the region, produced a 67 to carry the Asian challenge.
The Mexican said he is unperturbed with the stars taking a shot at him at the weekend. "I think my game is right there with them. Yes, they are superstars. It would be a nice experience for me to play with them, but I have to take it as just one more day on the golf course and will just try and play well and enjoy myself."
The 31 year old matched Montgomerie’s 65 with a haul of six birdies, an eagle and one bogey on his card. Quiroz delivered a wonderful back nine of 31 to open up a two stroke lead on the field.
European Tour Members Thomas Björn of Denmark, Swede Johan Edfors and Ivo Giner of Spain were among a group of six players tied for fifth place.
