Monty misery over prospect of making it to Olympic Club
COLIN MONTGOMERIE fears his dream of becoming an Olympic star this summer could turn into a nightmare — when he attempts to qualify for the US Open.
The former Ryder Cup captain and eight-time Order of Merit winner heads a group of six Scots chasing up to 12 places in international qualifying at Walton Heath tomorrow.
Monty has been runner-up three times in the world’s second-oldest major, most recently in 2006 at Winged Foot, and third once in the first of his 16 appearances.
But he is heading for the Surrey course more in hope than expectation of featuring at San Francisco’s Olympic Club next month.
Having failed to qualify for the past two years, Monty — one month short of his 49th birthday — does not rate his chances highly.
His mood darkened yesterday after a third-round 78 in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth after a back-nine collapse 24 hours earlier put paid to his chances of a fourth title.
He said: ‘I would love to qualify again for the US Open because majors are still important to me — and, if you don’t enter, you can’t win. But my chances are iffy.
‘Coming back in 40 on Friday was disappointing and four bogeys over the closing six holes today for 41 is not good.
‘I would never want to use such a prestigious event as the PGA Championship as practice for US Open qualifying but that’s what this event has become for me.’
Joining Monty at the 36-hole qualifier will be compatriots Stephen Gallacher, Marc Warren, Richie Ramsay, Scott Jamieson and George Murray.