EURO TOUR NEWS:ONE BRILLIANT round has suddenly convinced Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie – 47 yesterday – that his winning days on the European Tour are not over yet. Montgomerie returns to action at the BMW International Open in Munich today two and a half weeks after a course record 62 at Sunningdale New earned him a 21st successive appearance in the British Open.
“It gives you belief – of course it does,” said the Scot, who had his last victory at the 2007 European Open and his last top 10 finish almost two years ago.
“I’ll be watching scoreboards this week (to see how his cup candidates are faring), but I am here as a golfer and I am here to win.”
Montgomerie is now a lowly 375th in the world, but it is only a month ago that Simon Khan lifted the flagship BMW PGA title at Wentworth from the depths of 471st on the rankings.
For the final run-in to October’s match against the Americans Montgomerie has asked to play with Europeans in the first two rounds of tournaments.
He is not making specific requests based on positions in the points race, but it certainly adds an extra dimension to the pairings and this week he will tee off alongside Paul Casey and defending champion Nick Dougherty.
Casey had hoped to arrive in Germany as US Open champion after taking the lead with a first round 69 at Pebble Beach, but he fell back to a disappointing 40th place. That leaves the world number eight still looking to climb into an automatic qualifying place.
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell – not playing this week – was the one to win his first major instead, of course, and Casey’s slide prompted Montgomerie to ask him about his tournament plans when they met up.
Europe’s captain expects everyone still not certain of their place to be at Gleneagles for the final counting event in August, but Casey is not alone in considering that a tough decision.
The first leg of the US Tour’s FedEx Cup play-offs is the same week and Casey said: “It’s a tricky one. I told Monty that I’d just like to win The Open next month and then not have to worry about it. I’m hoping Graeme’s win on Sunday opens the floodgates for other Europeans. That’s what I want.” This is Casey’s last Tour event before St Andrews, but others still have the French and Scottish Opens to come.
Ernie Els is looking to end a three-year barren spell in Europe after his third in the US Open.
McDowell may be missing but Irish interest is well catered for with eight in the field. Darren Clarke partners Paul McGinley and they are joined by Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy, Damien McGrane, Shane Lowry, Michael Hoey and Simon Thornton.
BMW Open
Course:Munchen Eichenried, Munich, Germany.
Length:7,023 yards. Par: 72.
Prizemoney:€2 million. (€333,330) for the winner
Field:156.
Defending champion:Nick Dougherty won by one shot.
Layout:With mature trees and demanding rough it is not as easy as it once was. However, it is flat with wide fairways and easy to read greens.
On TV:Sky Sports 3 (3.30pm today).
Weather:Slight chance of rain every day, warm for the weekend.
