BUOYED by an observation from Nick Faldo, Europe's Ryder Cup captain, that the Scot can still turn his season around and take part in a ninth successive match against the Americans, Colin Montgomerie was also glad yesterday to hear words of encouragement from Ernie Els on the eve of the £3.6million BMW PGA Championship.
According to Els, the Scot is a player who can't be counted out of the equation on a course where he once won Europe's flagship event three years in succession. "As a dark horse, I would say Monty," volunteered the South African when asked to name hi
s contenders this week.
"Colin has been struggling with his game a bit, but you've got to drive it well around here right now. If the weather stays the same, it's going to be very fast. The greens are going to be tough and firm. Ball striking is going to be at a premium. So I think Monty might be a dark horse."
Not surprisingly, after failing to finish any higher than 48th in any stroke play event since January, the Scot, an 80/1 outsider, was pleased to receive an endorsement from an old rival and the bookmakers' 13/1 favourite. "If Ernie said that then I'll take it as a compliment," he grinned. "Of course, he's not so dark this week, in fact he's a very light horse…
"It was nice of Ernie to say that. He knows I enjoy it here. We've had good games against one another over the years in the World Matchplay. And having won this PGA title three times – I'm the only player who has that many – that's also a confidence booster."
As for those remarks from Faldo – "I believe Monty will turn it around," Europe's captain observed earlier this week, "Monty has a great way of producing the goods when he really needs to" – the Scot is optimistic he can justify the good will.
"I accept that and I thank him for his comments because he knows when I get a feeling, and I'm just about getting that feeling here, that I can turn it round," he added. "And by that I mean not just from finishing 50th over the last couple of weeks, but turning it around to a stage where I can really contend."
The Scot accepts he must be among the top 20 leading candidates if he wants to occupy one of the dozen players' seats on the flight to Kentucky in September. "I would tend to agree with that. Above 20th, it's more of a risk. Below 20 is less of one. Now I just need to make sure I'm in there."
On a bouncy course which could replicate elements of conditions at a US Open, the major which places the highest premium on straight driving, Montgomerie knows his old strengths off the tee will still count for something round the West course.
"I was missing fairways but I'm hitting them again now," added the Scot. "That's the most important thing round here. The ball is running quite fast out there and a number of people will miss the fairways and that means they will miss the greens. If I can hit the fairways this week, I have an opportunity."
Eight years since he collected the first prize of £333,000 – Sunday's winner will take home nearly £600,000 – Monty is keen to inscribe his name on the trophy again. "I want to try and emulate the Order of Merit situation where the last time I won it was 1999 and then I won again six or seven years later. I want to try and do the same sort of thing here one day, if not this year then next."
Between 1998 and 2004, Wentworth was a Scottish fiefdom with Montgomerie, Andrew Oldcorn and Scott Drummond winning six titles in eight seasons. The platoon of tartan golfers have been less prominent here since with Andrew Coltart and Gary Orr's share of sixth in 2006 the best subsequent effort from the Scots.
With Oldcorn losing his European Tour card two years past and Drummond struggling to make cuts – he's only played 72 holes three times over the past year – Scotland's most recent PGA champions are all in need of a boost this week. "There are times when it's hard to see a way out," acknowledged Drummond. "But I'm through that and I'm just waiting for it all to click again. I certainly wouldn't say 'no' if it was to happen again this week."
Apart from a seasoning of Scots, a stellar field includes major winners of the calibre of Vijay Singh, Angel Cabrera and Retief Goosen. Little wonder, Justin Rose, who also plays in America, complimented the European Tour on attracting so many leading lights to Wentworth.
The full article contains 810 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
