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Inverness - Colin Montgomerie's bid to snatch an 11th-hour British Open place next week got off to a promising start with a 67 at the Scottish Open on Thursday.
But despite being only two strokes behind the early leaders, fellow Briton Lee Westwood and Chile's Mark Tullo, he was disappointed with his five-under-par return at Castle Stuart.
An ugly bogey on the last and two dropped shots in his round cancelled out an eagle on the second, his 11th hole.
Montgomerie matched world No 1 Luke Donald's score, and lagged only one shot behind Swede Peter Hanson in their three-ball, but said his round had still left a bitter taste.
"Any time you play with the world No 1 and equal him around the course you've done OK but I should have done better," the eight-times European No 1 told reporters.
"When I made eagle I thought I was on to something but then I bogeyed two of the easiest holes. To miss the ninth (his 18th) fairway was a disaster. The thing's 110 yards wide. I had to hit my second shot backwards.
"I'm disappointed but then if I wasn't disappointed, I'd give up. I'm here to do well - I'm here to win."
The 48-year-old Scot needs to be the best finisher in the top five of those not already exempt for next week's British Open and was frustrated he had reduced his chances of clinching the spot and making it 22 years in succession at the major.
"It's a long time 21 years playing in the Open, a whole career, a championship I love, one I've finished second in - I want to play again, I really do."
Britain's world No 2 Westwood could go back to the top of the world rankings if he wins.
He leads by a stroke with Tullo from in-form South African George Coetzee and Hanson. Alongside Montgomerie in fifth, though, is Westwood's arch-rival in the rankings compatriot Donald.
Westwood is blase about going to next week's major as world No 1 or being favourite to win at Royal St George's.
"I wouldn't care if I was 1 000-1 to win," he said. "Or I would... I'd put a big bet on myself."
