Scots Gary Orr and Scott Henderson soared to careerbest heights in the Alps yesterday, then saw European number one Colin Montgomerie stamp angrily from the Crans-sur-Sierre course after the first round of the Canon European Masters.

Orr had a 10-under-par 61, with Henderson a stroke behind, while the defending champion, Montgomerie, was almost beside himself with rage at his 65, which confirmed the Irish Open champion's favouritism for the £133,330 top prize. "We are playing on courses that are totally unacceptable for tournament golf . . . again and again and again," he thundered. "I have never been so frustrated. What do we do? Go home?"

Home he will not go, of course, not until a £800,000 prize fund is distributed on Sunday, despite the abysmal state of greens that have been ruined by midsummer rainstorms, and the mis-application of fertiliser three weeks ago that badly scorched the surfaces.

Temporary greens have had to be brought into operation at the sixth and eighth, and those on the outward half have more bare earth and sand than grass. They are not much better on the inward half, as Ryder Cup record breaker Nick Faldo pointed out after learning he had been selected as a wild card for his 11th match against the US.

"The greens really are the worst I have ever seen anywhere in the world," said the Englishman. "The one at the 12th was solid footprints. If I had used my wedge instead of my putter I would have damaged it."

For such a putting thoroughbred as Padraig Harrington, they were considerably less than ideal, but the Stackstown professional was in uncomplaining mood after his 68 which contained five birdies. His two bogeys both came from three-putts, at the fourth and 16th. But Harrington commented: "Gary shot 61 and Ronan Rafferty had 65, so someone was holing putts.

"A couple of three-putts were to be expected, but I managed to get a couple down from six feet."

Harrington, who made a gallant attempt in Munich last week to make the automatic segment of the Ryder Cup team, said he had decided to play at Crans because of the six invitations he had received to take part in Canon Shoot-Outs during the course of the season.

"Having qualified for the final I was not about to pull out," he remarked, but it was a fruitless final because Harrington and his partner, American Ryder Cup man Scott Hoch, were the first to be eliminated.

After this week Harrington will take the three weeks rest he has promised himself, but says: "I know I am now the first reserve in case any of the automatic players are injured and cannot play in the Ryder Cup. I shall be taking my mobile telephone with me and staying in touch. If I get the call I shall be there."

Rafferty, who has been 12th and 14th in his last two events, numbered nine birdies in his 65 to stand alongside Montgomerie and Spaniard Fernando Roca. But he had three bogeys, two of them at short holes.

Darren Clarke, playing his first event since his trip to the US for the PGA Championship and World Series, shot 67, having six birdies between starting and ending with a bogey. He took six at the opening hole, and was clearly disgruntled after missing from six feet on the last green to finish with a five.

David Higgins ended a run of recent poor starts with a oneunder 70, while Philip Walton, who was three-under-par after eight holes, had 71, as did Des Smyth.

Raymond Burns posted 72, but with 98 players beating par, and the cut likely to be around twounder, he needs considerable improvement today.