Colin Montgomerie aims to extend Open qualifying record
07th June 2010
Colin Montgomerie found some form at Celtic Manor to give himself a much-needed boost as he attempts to qualify for his 21st consecutive Open. The Ryder Cup-captaining Scot will be among 96 players chasing 10 places at St Andrews in a 36-hole qualifying event at Sunningdale.
Although well down the field at the Wales Open, he played his last 11 holes in five under par to finish with a 71.
"You want to be part of it, so it is a very important day for me," he said.
"I would love to play in this Ryder Cup year. It is almost a celebration of golf when you tee up there. "
Europe's team captain, who has played at every Open since 1990, joins Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and David Howell at Sunningdale.
Matteo Manassero, who came 13th as an amateur last year, is also competing for a place at the course where Montgomerie was runner-up to Tiger Woods five years ago.
Two weeks ago, Montgomerie failed by three shots to qualify for the US Open and the odds were slightly better there, with 77 competing for 11 spots.
However, he came through in a play-off the last time he was at Sunningdale six years ago.
The Scot, without a top-10 finish for two years, made a poor start to his final round at Celtic Manor, the venue for this year's Ryder Cup, before his late rally.
And he was asked again about off-course issues - namely his fight to save his two-year-old second marriage after it came out this week that he had been unfaithful with an old girlfriend.
Having still been in contention for the title at Celtic Manor after the opening two days, the 46-year-old slumped to a third-round 76 on the day the latest headlines hit the news pages.
However, after finishing the tournament on three-over par, Montgomerie reiterated that it would not affect his captaincy and said: "I've been working on it for the last year, so there is no issue. "
Fellow Scots Stephen Gallacher, who finished fourth equal at the Wales Open, and Andrew Coltart are also joined in the Sunningdale field by Paul Broadhurst, Thomas Bjorn, Peter Baker, Ignacio Garrido and Niclas Fasth.
The 2009 Open at Turnberry was won by America's Stewart Cink, who beat veteran Tom Watson in a play-off.
World number one Woods missed the cut for the first time at the Open and Manassero announced himself on the world stage at the age of 16 by winning the silver medal for the best performance by an amateur.
Since then he has become the youngest ever player at this year's Masters and, having turned 17, he made his professional debut at the Italian Open last month.
Source: BBC News & Sports - St Tropez
