Colin Montgomerie admits he needs to work out with weights to give his career a lift

Published on Thursday 7 October 2010 18:30

ON HIS first day back in the 'office', it didn't lake long for Colin Montgomerie to discover what he needs to do to climb from 425th in the world rankings to being competitive again in his final few years on the European Tour.

Outdriven by 40 yards all day long by Martin Kaymer at Kingsbarns as he signed for a level-par 72 in his opening round of the Dunhill Links Championship, Europe's winning Ryder Cup captain said he needed to go to the gym. And he wasn't joking.

"I'm exempt until I'm 52 so I've got five (more] years to do this. But, if I'm going to play here on Tour, I have to make an extra effort, attain new standards. To do that I've really got to work on and off the course. I'd love to be able to come back and win again," he admitted.

"I need to find 40 yards. Martin's long, but if that's the competition, I need to find 20-30 yards. I've got to find that to compete. Technology is one way, but I'm using the highest technology affordable so I'm not sure. Drugs? That's what you want me to say! Into the gym and lift those weights I have never lifted to make the 30 yards I need to match Martin and the rest."

While he may be lacking in terms of length, the Scot certainly hasn't lost any of the competitive edge that saw him crowned as European No 1 eight times. However, he admits it will be difficult for him to climb back up the rankings the way Lee Westwood, outside the top 250 seven years ago but now No 2, has done.

"Lee's ten years younger than me; that was my peak through 30 to 37. Very few people got better in their 40s; Vijay Singh's the only one. I guess Miguel (Angel Jimenez] has sustained it better than most, but I've got to improve and be one of the few people who can do that. Not saying I can, but it's a goal," added the 47-year-old.

"I'm still very ambitious. I stand on the first tee and want to win. (I have a] great drive to win and long may that continue. It hasn't diminished at all; the fact that I'm 400-odd in the world has made it greater.

"There were times in the last two years I missed the cut and realised I was thinking about other things, but there was never a time I regretted taking the job; it was something offered to me and I took it knowing what would happen. I have to make up that two years plus now. Lot of work ahead, but I'm prepared to do it because I do love the competition."

Montgomerie's partner this week is Douglas, his older brother. Normally, they only play together in the Christmas holiday, but the better known of the two brothers says that's only for "exercise".

Yesterday, the Montgomeries were playing right behind the Molinaris. As with all the groups with a Ryder Cup connection, they were clapped and cheered all the way round as Kingsbarns welcomed its biggest crowd by far for this event.

"You get clapped on to every tee and green and the crowds are super," Montgomerie added."And the weather was a delight.''

After looking at one point at Celtic Manor on Monday that he was about to hyperventilate as the strain of trying to win back the Ryder Cup took its toll, Montgomerie admitted he enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere of the first tee yesterday. He said: "This morning at 9:11 compared to Monday was much more relaxed. It was pressure-packed on Monday and a real anxious day. Today there were 35-40 people there and it was joyous to have that amount watching you!

"Shooting 72 all things considered was a bloody good effort. I hadn't played for a month so was very rusty. But I'm glad to get round in 72 with one of my Ryder Cup team and, as usual, he played very well.

"I go to St Andrews now, a course I like very much, and hope I get a decent score."