Montgomerie finds form in Hong Kong

Scottish veteran Colin Montgomerie boasted he had the body of 30-year-old despite never going to the gym as he roared back to form at the UBS Hong Kong Open on Friday.

Montgomerie, 45, shot five-under 65 at par-70 Fanling to raise hopes of a second win here after his 2005 triumph, and his first victory since last year's World Cup.

The eight-time European merit winner was once heckled as 'Mrs Doubtfire' by American galleries due to his chunky physique, but he said had not caught the golfing fitness wave inspired by Tiger Woods.

Instead, he said he had managed to stay in shape throughout his career because he does not practise much and never drinks.

'I'm very lucky that this is my 23rd year on tour and I'm exempt until I'm 52, and that I'm injury-free,' he said.

'My body is probably about that of a 30-year-old and not that of a 45-year-old because I didn't hit as many golf balls and hurt it as much bashing golf balls around the world.

'I haven't practised as much as some, I've relied on a more natural way of playing the game.'

Montgomerie said he had only missed one tournament out of nearly 500 in his career, this year's German Masters, when he dislocated his shoulder.

When asked if he ever went to the gym, he replied, 'Er, no.'

'I work out my back. My back used to be very sore but I don't work out on any other part of my body, just my back,' he added.

Despite his impeccable fitness, 'Monty' admitted he was in need of a confidence boost after a poor run which has seen him drop out of the top 100.

'I'm 45 years old and I'm just trying to gain some confidence,' he said.

'When I was winning in the 1990s on a regular basis, I was confident of doing so, and now I've lost my confidence,' he said.

'So these two scores back-to-back in the 60s is good for me, and I can gain some confidence from that and know that I can achieve what I think I can.'

Montgomerie was seven-under 133 at the halfway stage, just one off the provisional round two lead.

He will defend his World Cup title in Shenzhen, southern China next week with partner Alistair Forsyth.

The $2.5million UBS Hong Kong Open is the second stop on the European tour's Race to Dubai, where the top 60 money-earners will play a $10 million season finale in Dubai next November.

Rory McIlroy shot a superb 64 to move within two shots of the lead. Gareth Maybin, Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley have all made the cut.