Monty hopes for Wentworth boost
For Colin Montgomerie it is a case of looking on the bright side of life as he approaches the BMW Championship at Wentworth.
The eight-time European number one needs no reminding that he has missed seven halfway cuts already this season, including those at the British Masters two weeks ago and the Irish Open on his own Carton House course last Saturday.
But what Montgomerie is concentrating on is that few players have such a good record at the home of the European Tour as him.
This will be the 42-year-old’s 18th appearance in the circuit’s flagship event and he takes a huge amount of confidence from a record of three victories, three seconds and no fewer than 12 top-10 finishes.
“It’s a very, very different golf course from what we’ve seen before (in the past year Ernie Els has added 30 bunkers, put on more than 200 yards and altered all but the short 14th),” he said.
“Let’s hope that things can change around when I feel as comfortable as I do around here.
“I think it’s obvious I have a reasonable record here and I want to try and use this as a springboard to a decent back end to this year. I practised a lot better today and got my rhythm and better timing. I look forward to challenging here this week.
“Because I’m not such a long hitter any more I think it’s taken away some hazards that long hitters can still drive into.”
Montgomerie, a course designer as well as a player, is among those really concerned about the lengthening of courses to match technological advances in club and ball manufacture.
He has around 20 courses either in play or at various stages of construction and said of what has happened at Augusta and now at Wentworth: “Given the fact that we haven’t done anything about the golf ball going as far, we have to change the courses.
“We are reaching a point where a decision has to be made. We cannot keep spending money using new land. We don’t have to, we have an option. We can change the ball.
“It’s environmentally more friendly and we don’t have to spend as much money. I’ve said it for years and I’m not alone in my views.”
What Montgomerie wants is a separate ball for tournament play, an option which has not been ruled out by new Augusta National chairman Billy Payne.
