Manager Guy Kinnings said: "Colin is feeling a bit sore and decided to be careful rather than risk making things worse.

"It was not a sudden pain, just some discomfort possibly from all the work he has doing on his game lately.

"He anticipates being absolutely fine for the event."

The world number nine, who has not won on the European tour for 54 weeks, has time for further treatment in the morning if necessary, having been given a 1.05pm first round tee-off time with defending champion Darren Clarke and Welshman Phillip Price.

Montgomerie, 38 later this month, has always counted himself lucky in how few injuries he has had during his career. He feels it was a key factor in his winning of seven successive Order of Merit titles, a run which was ended last year when he finished sixth on the money list.

The Scot did win the Australian Masters at the start of this season, but has managed nothing better than 10th since and missed the cut in both the Masters at Augusta and Portuguese Open.

He has won twice on the Forest of Arden - in the English Open in 1994 and the British Masters three years ago - and was also a runner-up at the course to Philip Walton in 1995 and Greg Turner in 1997.

In the English Open six years ago Walton beat him in a play-off he established a new course record of 63 and he matched that two years later.