COLIN MONTGOMERIE'S 70 LEAVES HIM FIVE BEHIND SPANIARD

MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ LEADS WITH 

A 65 ON US SENIOR TOUR DEBUT

FROM THE US CHAMPIONS' TOUR WEBSITE
DULUTH, Georgia (AP) -- It would be an understatement to say that Miguel Angel Jimenez's first round on the Champions Tour went well.
After one eagle, five birdies and a tournament record 65, the Spaniard from Malaga  proclaimed "I love it!" and then departed in search of a couple of his usual staples.
So far, life is good for the Spaniard on the 50-and-over Tour.
Avoiding a post-Masters letdown - he finished fourth in the first Major of the season -  Jimenez led the cold, soggy Greater Gwinnett Championship by three strokes at the end of the first day Friday
"Very good start," Jimenez said.
"Now it's time for a nice, warm shower, a nice fat cigar and a glass of Rioja. ... I'm desperate to find one of my cigars and have a glass of wine."
Jimenez was 6 under on his first nine holes, including an eagle on No. 18. He added another birdie on No. 2 and closed with seven straight pars at TPC Sugarloaf.
Bernhard Langer set the previous tournament record with a 66 while winning the 2013 inaugural championship.
Langer, Steve Pate and Kenny Perry are three strokes behind Jimenez.
Perry said he thought Jimenez might have a letdown after his strong finish in Augusta.
"It's funny, you go from the PGA Tour to the Champions Tour and find it's so much more laid back and relaxed over here," Perry said. "The atmosphere is different. I actually didn't know what he'd do today. Honestly, I didn't think he would shoot 65. I thought he'd be more the other way, after a fourth-place Masters finish, it'd be a letdown this week.
"Jimenez is an amazing character. He's fun to watch. He's a great player."
The 65 came six days after Jimenez shot the low round of the Masters, a third-round 66.
Jimenez is focused on making the European Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles in September and may have limited time on the Champions Tour this year. 
Perry, the 2013 Player of the Year, said Jimenez will be good for the US SeniorTour.
"Yeah, we need guys like that out here," Perry said. "I mean, he's a huge fan favourite. He brings a lot of flair and class to golf and he just has a good time."

Jimenez tried to sneak through the interview room as Perry was talking with reporters. Perry stopped to call out to Jimenez "Hope to see you tomorrow. Don't beat us too bad, OK?"
After Jimenez mentioned wine and cigars in his reply, Perry laughed and said "That guy has too much fun."
Asked if Jimenez might spark a Champions Tour trend with his well-known passions, Perry said: "If it works. If it's not broke, don't change it."
Fred Couples shot a 69, including a double bogey on No. 9, his finishing hole. Jeff Sluman also shot a 69.
Though light rain began soon after the round began and became more intense in the afternoon, there was no delay.
"It was as cold and ugly as you can get," Langer said. "It never stopped raining on us for two minutes."
Jimenez said the weather was just a nuisance.
"It's not easy because all day is wet," Jimenez said. "Not hard rain but these little things coming and coming, sometimes quicker."
Pate called his 68 "kind of unexpected" and a product of "smoke and mirrors." He said he struggled more with the temperatures, which dropped to about 50 by the end of his round, than with the rain.
"At a certain point I just got cold and it was hard to move," Pate said. "We're old. We don't like cold weather.
"This is really not my wheelhouse. I like it when it's about 95 degrees and I'm sweating."
Colin Montgomerie was part of a group of four at 70.  
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 71 Players from USA unless stated
65 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain)
68 Kenny Perry, Bernhard Langer (Germany), Steve Pate.
69 Fred Couples.

SELECTED SCORES
70 Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)
71 Roger Chapman (England), Jay Haas, Duffy Waldorf
75 Sandy Lyle (Scotland). 

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