analysis Despite his undying optimism, the 48-year-old cannot be expected to win a golden ticket at the Scottish Open, writes Nick Rodger
This really is the last chance for the Scot if he is to make the Sandwich cut. Since his debut appearance in the world’s oldest major at St Andrews in 1990, the former European Ryder Cup-winning captain has played in 21 consecutive championships, but that proud record is now hanging on an extremely shoogly peg.
Interestingly enough, the only Open he has effectively ‘missed’ in that time was at St George’s back in 2003 ,when he took a tumble on some slippery steps on his way to breakfast ahead of the first round, injured his wrist and was forced to retire after grimacing through seven holes.
The facts of the matter for the multiple European Tour winner this week are simple and everything will unravel here in the majestic surrounds of Castle Stuart in the Barclays Scottish Open.
The 48-year-old, a runner-up in five majors, including a second to Tiger Woods in the 2005 Open at St Andrews, needs to finish in the top five come Sunday night and be the leading the player in that pack who is not otherwise exempt for the Kent showpiece in a fortnight.
Given that Monty has not managed to barge his way into the top-five on the tour since 2008, you’ve probably got more chance of seeing Elvis hurtling down the first fairway on Evel Knievel’s motorbike whistling ‘Highland Cathedral’.
A seventh place in May’s BMW PGA championship at Wentworth hinted at something of spirited rally for the eight-time European Tour No.1, but the galvanising effect didn’t last long. He finished last at the following week’s Wales Open at Celtic Manor and then trudged out of the Open’s International Final Qualifier at Sunningdale a day later with his face hanging down in pleats, having propped up the field again.
“I’ll be trying everything -- as always,” he said at the time, in reference to the various back routes he could still take in his Open quest. With those alleyways slowly being cordoned off, Montgomerie will no doubt appear for his pre-tournament press conference tomorrow in high spirits. When it comes to making bold predictions about his game, there is no one better than Monty when he is in carnival mood prior to a championship. He will talk up his chances of making a robust challenge even though he is part of a glittering field featuring five of the world’s top-10, while he huffs and puffs down in 294th on the global pecking order.
He will recall the jubilant time he won the Scottish Open crown in 1999 and he may even draw on the feelings of inspiration of being back competing in this neck of the woods for the first time since he demolished Alastair Watt 9 and 8 in the Scottish Amateur final at Nairn in 1987. It will all be very upbeat, confident and purposeful but, given his decline in recent years, it will be, as is becoming increasingly the norm, all talk.
With Monty’s toils continuing, the new standard bearer for Scottish golf on the global stage, Martin Laird, has arrived on the Moray Firth with renewed vigour and focus. The 28-year-old from Glasgow, a two-time winner on the US PGA Tour and currently the world’s No.26, has plenty on his plate at the moment.
Not only will he be carrying the expectations of a nation, both here and at Sandwich, the former Scottish youth champion is set to round off a hectic spell by tying the knot with his American fiancee Meagan Franks at the end of July.
Having missed the cut in last month’s US Open at Congressional -- he admits the pre-wedding chores hindered his build up somewhat -- the Hilton Park honorary member is now completely tuned in to golfing goings on over the next fortnight.
“I was not properly prepared [for the US Open] but there was not much I could have done about it,” admitted Laird, who spent the weekend shifting his links game into gear at Lundin during a stay at his parents home in Fife. “I’m getting married this year and there were a lot of things I had to do. I am definitely feeling like I am more prepared for these two weeks. There was no way I was coming here with that not being the case.
“I have got a couple of small things still to do but the major stuff has been taken care of. The plan was to get most of it done a month before the wedding so we are almost there. My fiancee is still back in America working on the small stuff and I have already been measured for my kilt.”
A declaration perhaps, that Laird is very much dressed for success.
- Nick Rodger is Herald Sport’s new golf correspondent.
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