Downcast Montgomerie admits his game is in 'terrible' state after making an early exit

Published on Friday 9 July 2010 20:27

COLIN Montgomerie spoke earlier this week about his intention to rescue his ambitions as a player in a year dominated by his captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team.

While a course record-equalling 62 in qualifying for the Open at Sunningdale had provided evidence of his ability to summon up his powers of old, it was, he admitted, a score which came out of the blue. Normal service continued for the Scot yesterday at the Barclays Scottish Open as he posted another 74, just as he did in the first round on Thursday.

It left him six over par for the tournament and handed him a quick escape to St Andrews, where he will continue to fathom a way of playing his best golf on a consistent basis.

Montgomerie finished second at the Old Course on the last occasion the Open was held there, and the Scot is praying for better weather as well as an improvement in his own fortunes after a year in which he has not finished higher than 31st at a tournament.

"It was miserable out there," Montgomerie said. "It's a shame as London is lovely and the rest of Britain isn't bad either, I believe. It's a shame for the fans in particular that the weather is against us. The course is holding up surprisingly well given that there has been a lot of rain. A lot of the course, as we know, is below loch level but it is holding up okay."

The same could not be said about his game, which is being placed under pressure due to the poor state of his putting.

"My own game is terrible," he complained. "Two 74s doesn't really hit it, I'm afraid. I've given myself some time over the weekend and I will go up to St Andrews on Sunday probably.

"I missed too many putts and didn't play too well either. I've got to give myself a chance next week at least. I will try to do something over the weekend that gives me some positive steps."

Ernie Els was another treating the likelihood of his early exit - as with Phil Mickelson, the South African's score of three over for the tournament began to look better and better as the day progressed - as an opportunity to get back to basics. He ended up missing the cut - just.

"I was a late entry into this tournament," he said. "I only came here because I love it. Loch Lomond is a beautiful place and I have always had a good time here.

"This is probably the worst round I have ever played here but my swing is not quite there. I have a couple of days to get it fixed and get ready for St Andrews.

"I'll find something (ahead of next week]. I know St Andrews very well. It is just a feel thing for me. I'll get something going and hopefully I'll be ready by Thursday. I've got five or six days to get ready."

Like Montgomerie, Els is struggling with his form. When the Big Easy describes himself as battling with his swing there must indeed be something very wrong.

"I was fighting my swing all day and basically got fed up with it," he said yesterday, after a round of 76 which included four bogeys and two double-bogeys. "I put one into the woods at the sixth for a lost ball then at the seventh put my second shot into the loch. It's probably better for me to get out of here so that I can work on it for St Andrews. Maybe it is a good thing."

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