Montgomerie begins Ryder Cup quest; Dodd and Lara lead in Sicily

Former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie is four shots off the lead at the Sicilian Open.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie begins quest to make 2012 team
• The Scot cards an round opening round of 69 at the Sicilian Open
• Stephen Dodd and Jose Manuel Lara share the lead on six-under
• Paul Casey leads Transitions Championship in Florida on seven-under

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(CNN) -- Colin Montgomerie made a solid start in his quest to qualify for Europe's 2012 Ryder Cup team with an opening round of 69 at the Sicilian Open.

The Scot led Europe to a thrilling victory in the 2010 installment of the battle against the United States as captain but is now concentrating on his own game in a bid to make the team for next year's event.

And the world number 420 produced a two-under par round in Sicily to sit four behind the joint leaders -- Welshman Stephen Dodd and Jose Manuel Lara, from Spain.

Montgomerie told the European Tour website: "I fought back well -- it could have been 76 in a hurry that but I managed to follow Raphael [Jacquelin, his playing partner] a little bit and got the four birdies to his five so it was good..

"We enjoyed it out there. Tomorrow's forecast isn't great so I think the best thing to do is go and get some sleep and get out there early tomorrow and try and keep it going."

Dodd and Lara both made nine birdies at the Donnafugata course as they topped the leaderboard at the end of day one.

Lara, who almost lost his tour card six months ago, recovered from an early double bogey to post four birdies on the back nine.

The 33-year-old was joined by Dodd, who made an eagle on the 16th to tie for the lead.

He said: "I did a lot of good things out there today. I kept in play most of the time, hit some good iron shots and I putted well which is always a key for any good round."

Meanwhile, England's Paul Casey took an early lead at the Transitions Championship in Florida.

Casey fired an opening round 64 to lead on seven-under-par from American Nick Watney who closed two shots behind.

World number one Martin Kaymer finished on three-under and told the official PGA tour website that he was impressed with the Innisbrook course.

"It's a fantastic golf course, I think one of the best I've played in America to be honest," Kaymer said. "It's very difficult. You have to hit a lot of good tee shots."