Lack of Scots in top 100 not a worry, says Monty

Published on Wednesday 8 July 2009 22:48

TEN years since he won the Scottish Open and Paul Lawrie secured the Open in successive weeks, Colin Montgomerie has defended the current standing of Scottish golf and argued there's no immediate cause for concern over the continuing lack of representatives from the home of golf in the world's top 100.

While Montgomerie himself has slipped to 200th in the pecking order, Europe's Ryder Cup captain was encouraged to learn that nine Scots will take part in the oldest major at Turnberry next week compared to only four in the Open at Birkdale last summer.

"I don't think there's anything to worry about," remarked the man who finished runner-up in the majors more often than any other player who hasn't won one. Praising the Scottish amateurs who have notched World and European team successes over the past year, Monty is optimistic the tide will turn sooner rather than later.

"I don't think you will be asking me that question in three or four years time," he said. "I think it will be a big difference for Scottish golf over the next three or four years.You've got to remember there's only four and a half million of us and, considering that, we do very well to compete on the world stage.

"I wouldn't worry at this stage about the lack of Scots in the top 100. I think around eight years ago there wasn't an Englishman in the top 100 either. Now there's a number. It's a cyclical thing and just a coincidence it happens to be at this stage.

"The more Scots in the field for the Open the better, obviously. Lloyd Saltman did awfully well in the Open at St Andrews and we wish him well again, as we do with every Scot."

Generous in his assessment of perceived Scottish shortcomings – he's not always been this munificent – Monty is more scathing about his own deficiencies this season. Eager to make a mark in both the Barclays Scottish Open and the Open, the 46-year-old knows he needs to shrug off a season well short of his usual standard.

"I haven't had a top ten for a year now in Europe," he recalled, "and it's about time that changed. I've also got to get back into the Race to Dubai. It's incredible I'm not in the top 60 yet. But I will be by the end of the season."

Encouraged by an enduring gift for making birdies and eagles, the Scot is less satisfied with a propensity for making mistakes. He counted 16 at the French Open last week and felt most of those errors were due to a technical hitch. He's been working with coach Pete Cowen and is optimistic he can replicate the swing which helped him win the Scottish Open ten years ago.