He Won’t Win Mr. Congeniality, Either

Colin Montgomerie, who came into the British Open swaggering and serene, is no longer in a really great mood.

It could be because he shot a 76 in the first round on his home course or because he’s 12 shots behind the leader or simply because he’s a sourpuss, but Montgomerie was not exactly jovial Saturday.

A sample of a brief conversation with reporters:

Q. “Do you think your golf is solid right now?”

Montgomerie: “That’s not what I would call it.”

Q. “When you see wind, do you come with a number in mind?”

Montgomerie: “No, no, no. What do you mean a number? You Americans tend to talk about numbers. We talk about trying our best on every shot.”

Q. “What did you think of Tiger Woods today?”

Montgomerie: “Well, I’m not talking about Tiger Woods, I’m talking about myself.”

Q. “What has upset you this week?”

Montgomerie: “Nothing has really upset me.”

Have a nice day, Colin.

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Meanwhile, Tom Lehman birdied three of the first eight holes and shot a 33 on the front, then had four bogeys on the back for a 39 and a 72.

His comments were succinct: “I played very badly. The back nine is eating my lunch.”

Through 54 holes, the defending champion is at five-over-par 218, but 10 over on the back nine.

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David Russell is not your typical British-born golfer, basically because he lives in Calabasas and plays out of Calabasas Country Club.

Russell’s wife, Sharon, and two daughters, Holly and Hayley, travel with Dad when they can.

Russell, 39, who has been battling lymph cancer, survived qualifying for the Open and is trying to regain his European PGA Tour card.

“I’m feeling really fit,” said Russell, who is at two-over 215 after a 68 Saturday. “I’ve no problems and everything is great. Except for some of my putting.”

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The good Jack: Birdie, birdie, eagle on Nos. 4, 5, 6.

The bad Jack: Bogey, bogey, bogey on Nos. 13, 14, 15.

That’s the way it went Saturday for 57-year-old Jack Nicklaus, who had a 32 without a bogey on the front nine and a 39 with five bogeys on the back.

That added up to a 71 and a five-over total of 218. As you may imagine, Nicklaus wasn’t very pleased.

“Sure I’m disappointed,” Nicklaus said. “I don’t think it’s a reflection of my age. I think it’s a reflection of my golf game.”