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Els thrashes Montgomerie in first round at Wentworth

Ernie Els set off in pursuit of a seventh World Matchplay title by thrashing Colin Montgomerie six and five on Thursday.

But in keeping with the South African's "Big Easy" reputation, Els admitted afterward that he felt "kind of sad" to have crushed the former European No. 1 so convincingly.

On a day which also saw Angel Cabrera crush Retief Goosen by the same margin and early exits for Open champion Padraig Harrington and Britain's top player Justin Rose, Montgomerie simply admitted: "I was just rubbish all day -- rubbish."

Els said: "It was tough both of us playing together in the first round. We've had so much success around this course and in this event. I think it would have been a really great match later in the tournament."

His victory keeps alive his hopes of a "Super Sunday." Els has plans to go South Africa's Rugby World Cup semi-final against Argentina in Paris and since it starts at 8pm British time there would be time for him to fly from Surrey even if he is involved in the final and it goes the full distance.

"I do have a ticket and I will organize something," he said.

Montgomerie added: "I was four over par and three-putting the first green set the tone for the day. I spent three days practising my putting -- in the rain, everything -- then you come to the first green and three-putt. End of the day. That was it."

Montgomerie is now in danger of falling out of the world's top 50 and possibly being forced to qualify for the majors next season.

Harrington lost four and two to Anders Hansen, the Dane who won the European PGA title at Wentworth in May.

"Losing in the first round is really disappointing because I was hoping to go all the way," said the Dubliner, who could now lose his position at the top of the European Order of Merit.

Rose is his closest challenger there, but he was demolished five and four by Hunter Mahan of the US.

Els and Swedes Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson all have the chance to go number one.

Not that Fasth and Stenson are through to the second round yet.

Because of a fog delay of almost two hours at the start of the day they were still out on the course when darkness came.

Stenson, who had been five up on the US' Woody Austin, was stood all square with one to go, while Fasth was two down to Argentina's Andres Romero after 32 of the 36 holes.

Hansen commented: "The only thing I had going for me was him [Harrington] not liking this course. But he just keeps going and you just never know what he is going to come up with. That's why he's Open champion."

Harrington never led and after lunching two down bogeyed the first hole for the second time and was never able to put pressure on his opponent.
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