World Matchplay Championship: Former winner Colin Montgomerie and US Open champion Michael Campbell yesterday joined forces in bemoaning the absence of America's leading golfers from the World Matchplay Championship.

A world-record first prize of £1 million (€1.485 million) - and a guaranteed £60,000 (€89,000) for first-round losers - has failed to attract Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and co to Wentworth this week.

With Vijay Singh also turning down an invitation and six-time winner Ernie Els recovering from a knee injury, none of the world's top four are taking part in the HSBC-sponsored event.

"It's unfortunate for the tournament," said Montgomerie, who believes American fears following this summer's London bombings are a factor.

"They still feel there is a safety issue here in Europe, I'm sure they do. We try and tell them it's okay but they have their own views on that one, being London and what have you."

Montgomerie has not spoken to the absentees but added: "Tiger is usually very good. He's one of the Americans who do travel. There's a few Americans that don't but they have a choice. We're all self-employed and we can play in any tournament we wish to play in."

Asked just how much it would take to lure the Americans across the Atlantic, Montgomerie said:

"You put up a last place of £60,000, if that's not enough what else is there really? I don't know what you do. You're given a lovely home here with a chef and a first-class air fare. There isn't much more you can do."

The Scot acknowledged that next week's Presidents Cup may have figured in the decision of a number of players, but Campbell is playing in both.

"That's Americans for you. It's too far to travel, but it's their choice really," said the Brighton-based New Zealander.

"It is a long way to come for one week and go back again.

"But I feel for the sponsors because they put up a lot of money. This is the richest first prize in all of golf, and the tournament is not as strong as they would like to have it.

"It's a little bit disheartening that we have the biggest prize in the world and half the guys don't turn up. You can say it's probably a slap in the face to the sponsors.

"It leaves a very bad taste in your mouth from a sponsor's point of view and the general public here."

The knee injury Els suffered has robbed the tournament of its record winner but Montgomerie does not believe that has made his task any easier.

"It's a shame that he's not playing but anybody in any game is capable of beating anyone else so it's all going to be quite close," added the 42-year-old Scot, who faces Australia's Mark Hensby in the first round.

"The standard between number 10 in the world and number 40 in the world is one shot over a tournament, never mind just over 36 holes.

"So expect a lot of the games to come down to the last hole or even further."

Paul McGinley, who makes his debut appearance in the competition, faces Denmark's Thomas Bjorn in today's 36-hole first-round match.

The McGinley-Bjorn match is one of three all-European first-round matches, with Luke Donald facing Bernhard Langer and Jose Maria Olazabal meeting David Howell.

Retief Goosen, who has won on tour for the past two weeks, is the pre-championship favourite and top seed and takes on England's Kenneth Ferrie.