Monty energised for rankings assault
After sitting out only one event in the last eight weeks Colin Montgomerie would be excused for looking tired on the eve of the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.
But instead the 42-year-old is excited. Not just about this week, but about the rest of the season and beyond too.
Joint runner-up in the European Open on Sunday, Montgomerie moved back to 40th in the world as a result. At the start of the year he was 81st.
“I’d like to think I can get back in the top 10 but I’d like to be in the top 25 by the end of the year – that’s my goal,” he said.
“Then next year I’d like to try and really work on my game and work out and try and get into the top 10. That would be a huge effort, a success.
“I want to keep going to see how far I can get. It’s actually very interesting and fun”
Montgomerie, who reached second in the world during his run of seven successive Order of Merit titles in the 1990s, feared his career was starting to peter out when he began having back problems and then last year suffered the break-up of his marriage.
But he has lost weight, become fitter and started to dedicate himself to his golf again.
“I’ve nothing else to do really – I might as well play,” he added.
“I’m taking my kids on holiday but until that stage (in three weeks’ time) I’m doing my job really.
“With my back in such a state, my golf game not great and emotionally not fantastic I felt I might not be talking this way – coming off a second place in Ireland and thinking about winning again.
“It would be great to win again here in Europe.” Something he has not done since 2002.
