Montgomerie suffers worst showing in two decades

Newport (Wales): Europe`s successful 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie departed from the scene of his team`s triumph in dejected mood on Friday.

The eight times European number one had his worst regular European Tour showing for 20 years as he plummeted out of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor 15 over par, sharing bottom place in the field. His rounds of 78 and 79 gave him his worst aggregate since the 1991 Benson and Hedges International. Montgomerie`s miserable two days were in stark contrast to last week when he had his best result for some time, tied seventh in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Now the 47-year-old Scot has to fire himself up again if he is to make sure of a start at next month`s British Open. "I`m not 25 any more and the last few days have taken their toll," Montgomerie, who followed his efforts at Wentworth by trying to qualify over 36 holes for the U.S. Open, told reporters."Perhaps if I had qualified for the U.S. Open on Monday it would have lifted me for this week, but I didn`t. Last week`s finish (at Wentworth) unfortunately comes only once in a blue moon now and here I`ve come back to earth with a bump."I now have to make sure I qualify for the (British) Open next Monday, because that is very important to me. I`ve played in the Open for 21 years in a row." Bureau Report