Havret leads Johnnie Walker, where focus is on Ryder Cup and greens

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GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) -- Ryder Cup hopefuls Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie had encouraging opening rounds in the Johnnie Walker Championship on Thursday.

The duo, with 13 Ryder Cup appearances between them, shot respective rounds of 72 and 74 on the par-73 PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles as Frenchman Gregory Havret took the first-round lead with a 5-under-par 68.

Nick Dougherty started a late European team bid to rise from 14th in the standings to the top 10 who qualify automatically at the end of this event on Sunday by shooting 73. His round contained five birdies and five bogeys on the windy 7,320-yard course with unpredictable greens after recent rain.

Two who could be ousted from the leading 10 on Sunday had mixed fortunes. Ninth-placed Soren Hansen shot a 2-under 71 while Oliver Wilson, 10th, carded a 76.

Justin Rose, eighth and at slight risk of not making the team, shot 73. Martin Kaymer, 11th, also shot 76. Ross Fisher, 13th, recorded a 72 as the late battle for places on the team heated up.

Ian Poulter, 12th, and Paul Casey, 16th, are playing in the PGA Tour's Deutsche Bank Championship this week, both also hoping for wild card callups from Captain Nick Faldo.

Clarke, fresh from victory in last week's Dutch Open, said he almost convinced himself on Wednesday that he loved this course.

"One under was a good score today with the wind and the soft greens," said the big Northern Irishman, 17th on the list.

He was troubled by the greens.

"I didn't have a 1- or 2-footer all day that I didn't think might miss," said Clarke, who bogeyed the 15th, 16th and 17th before a birdie at the last.

Lee Westwood, his old Cup partner who shot 72, was scathing about the greens, saying officials should "rip them up and redo them all."

"I know they're wet but I said the same last year when they were dry," Westwood added.

Montgomerie, who doubles as the chairman of this tournament, conceded there was a problem with the greens.

"I think that some greens drain better than these, there's no question. So we'll have to look into that at a future date," he said.

Officials said rainfall over the last three weeks was 8 inches compared with the August average of 8.6 inches.

Montgomerie, who has six wins and two ties in singles matches from his eight Ryder Cup appearances, probably needs to win this week to force Faldo to pick him. He is 20th in the standings after a poor summer.

"This was OK. One over is by no means out of this tournament," said the 45-year-old Scot, who expects to be Ryder Cup captain when the event is played here in 2014.

Havret, who won the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond last year, started at the 10th hole and made three birdies before dropping his only shot at the first. Then he birdied three more in succession from the fourth and led by two from Christian Cevaer, Paul Broadhurst, Robert Rock and Gary Orr, who all carded 70.

Dougherty was a protege of Faldo when he was younger and badly wants to play on his team at Valhalla. His mother died this year and he has struggled with his form since then.

"I decided I'd do my best to make the team because she always wanted me to play the Ryder Cup," he said. "I've always wanted to play in Nick's team. I'm very tired but as long as I give it everything and leave everything out on the course this week, I'll be satisfied."

Wilson summed up his 76 by saying: "Must do better."

"I didn't play that bad, to be honest. I made a couple mistakes and missed a few putts on the bumpy greens," he said. "I know a bit about what the others are doing but I'm trying to concentrate on what I'm doing."

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