With current leader Ernie Els eight strokes ahead of him at the top of the leaderboard and Henrik Stenson and Ross Fisher two shots behind, a finish in the top three is unlikely.

And the eight-time Order of Merit winner said: “I’ll try and finish in the top-10, that would be reasonable.

“The course is set up great. It is a big tournament this so we will see. There are lots of world ranking points available. So I’ll try and finish as high up as possible. We will see what happens.”

He made a slow start on his outward nine, carding two birdies and a bogey but he improved coming home to make four birdies without dropping a shot.

And Montgomerie admits he had difficulty mastering the back nine of the Emirates Golf Club course.

“I happened to get more luck on the front nine than the back nine. The back nine doesn’t suit me as you have to hit high hooks.

“On the 18th you need to hit a big high hook and you also need one on the 14th and 13th. That is not my game. I hit low fades so it is difficult for me.”