IT’S HARDLY been a vintage 2017 for Colin Montgomerie so far. 

There were regular trips to court to finalise his divorce while his golfing affairs were not quite a marriage made in heaven either as he fell down some stairs and tore ligaments in his left ankle which kept him on the side lines for a couple of months. 

That trademark glower has probably been a permanent facial feature these last few weeks and has possibly left gouges deeper than the Snake River Canyon.

The frustrating inactivity has only served to whet Monty’s appetite for a return to the competitive cut-and-thrust, though, and the aims and objectives for the season are quite clear.

“The Senior Open is right on my radar, it’s my No.1 target and the most important event on my calendar,” declared Montgomerie as he looked ahead to the over-50s showpiece at Royal Porthcawl on the south Wales coast in the summer.

Since reaching his half century three years ago, Montgomerie has flourished among the golfing golden oldies but the Senior British Open title remains elusive. All three of his senior major moments – a US Senior Open crown and two Senior PGA Championship wins – have come on American soil.

In the 2014 Senior Open at Porthcawl, Montgomerie finished second but came in almost a full calendar month behind the all-conquering Bernhard Langer who won by a remarkable 13 shots as the prolific German claimed a record-busting success.

“I thought I had done extremely well to shoot five-under and was waiting to receive the trophy but unfortunately they handed it to Bernhard, not me,” joked the 53-year-old Montgomerie, who was also third in the Senior Open of 2015 at Sunningdale. 

“I won the ‘other’ championship by three shots. Seriously, I honestly don’t think we will see the like of those four rounds by Bernhard again. That was one of the great performances. The only shame is that the world’s top 50 golfers weren’t in attendance because I reckon he’d have beaten them all. 

“I really do think that. I think it was the best performance of golf in 2014. It was absolutely amazing what he did.Having been second in the [main] Open at St Andrews and second in the Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl, I would love to go one better this year.”