Monty’s joy at securing Troon spot
DEREK LAWRENSON
IT was only a month ago that Colin Montgomerie was playing social golf at his home course of Royal Troon and remarking wistfully to his dad about how good it would be to play in The Open one last time.
Three days on from turning that dream into reality after coming through final qualifying, the 53-year-old Scot remains in a state of giddy excitement.
‘I’m not sure I can put into words what it means to me,’ he said. ‘Let’s just say I’m absolutely thrilled.
‘It was probably the last time I’ll go through final qualifying and it was only because The Open is at Troon that I tried. I had to give it a go and it’s fantastic that it has worked out.’
Monty’s return to the Open, here of all places, after an absence of six years is one of those beautiful sub-plots the championship always seems to conjure up.
‘Playing the odd round with the family while the stands were going up, I found my mind wandering and hoping I would get to play, as opposed to commentating,’ he said.
Monty qualified at Glasgow Gailes, claiming one of only three places available in a field of 72.
He played his first Open in 1990, but hasn’t competed in the event since 2010 — the last of 21 consecutive appearances. His best finish came in 2005, when runnerup to Tiger Woods at St Andrews, while he was tied 24th and 25th in two previous appearances at Troon, in 1997 and 2004. As for his chances, Monty isn’t getting carried away, saying: ‘It’s in my favour that I know every blade of the course, but my goal is to make the halfway cut. I’d love to still be around on Sunday.’ Meanwhile, Royal Troon will pass a vote tonight on allowing female members, with the move expected to go ahead. It is currently the only club on the Open rota, after Muirfield’s removal, to have a male-only membership policy. RORy McILROy described his opening 71 in the Open de France yesterday as ‘an adventure’ after twice finding the water. ‘The good news is that I started out with about 17 swing thoughts and I’ve got it down to five,’ he said. ‘I’ll try to get it down to two for The Open.’ Danny Willett and Lee Westwood both toiled to 75 and 74. Dane Lucas Bjerregard led after a 66. With double Ryder Cup points on offer, Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and England’s Andy Sullivan began well with rounds of 67 and 69.