Colin Montgomerie on course for history at Travis Perkins Masters

Colin Montgomerie put himself on course for another record achievement after snatching a one-shot lead after the second round of the Travis Perkins Masters at Woburn.

The Scot, bidding to become the first player in history to win the same tournament three years running on both the European and Senior European Tours, hit back from an uncertain first-day 73 to fire a five-under 67 over the Duke's Course and edge ahead of the field on four under par.

Montgomerie, the only man to win the flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth three years in a row, was roared on by the appreciative crowds at Woburn as he carded six birdies and just one dropped shot to move one clear of Spaniard Santiago Luna.

"That score was the very least that I needed to get back into contention," said Montgomerie, who capped an excellent day with a 35-foot putt for birdie from the fringe of the 18th green.

"I wasn't feeling great on the course yesterday and I had a terrible hour in the middle of my round where I dropped four shots in five holes which was just ridiculous. I turned a good start into a very poor round and it would have been easy to shoot 75, never mind 73.

"The difference today is that I holed a couple of what I call 'momentum' putts, especially at the 10th. I was three under par through the turn and got plugged in a bunker, came out to 30 feet and holed it. That was a momentum putt that kept me going and I had three more birdies from then on.

"I hit poor tee shots at the 17th and 18th and played them in one under par. From where I was off the tee, I would have taken over one. But it's not an easy finish and you have to make capital from these breaks and I did that. Now I am in contention and that was the aim at the start of the day."

Montgomerie, one of only two players along with Rick Gibson to break 70 on day two, also had praise for the spectators after another bumper turn-out at the iconic venue, adding: "This is the eighth time Travis Perkins has sponsored the tournament here and it's always been superbly supported. There were loads of people out there today and the event continues to be a great success."

European Seniors Tour Golf

Luna made three of his five birdies in a four-hole blitz around the turn, although he also had three bogeys on his card in a two-under 70 that lifted him into outright second.

Montgomerie's fellow Scots Bill Longmuir and Ross Drummond are just two off the lead along with American Tim Thelen, Argentine Cesar Monasterio and England's Philip Golding, while Jamie Spence is a stroke further back as only 11 players broke par for 36 holes.