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Montgomerie, Campbell favourites for Wales Open
Newport, May 29: Colin Montgomerie begins as favourite for the first prize at the Wales Open at the Celtic Manor this week as many of Europe`s top players have given the tournament a miss.
Newport, May 29: Colin Montgomerie begins as favourite for the first prize at the Wales Open at the Celtic Manor this week as many of Europe's top players have given the tournament a miss.
Seven-times European number one Montgomerie is looking to elevate himself from 31st in the tour rankings with none of the current top-seven on duty at the 2010 Ryder Cup venue.
With defending champion Paul Lawrie of Scotland also absent with an injured neck, Montgomerie is delighted at having a better chance to win at the 409,000 dollars event.
"This is a big prize fund and I'm surprised it hasn't attracted a stronger field," said the Scot, 40 next month. "But I'm also glad it hasn't in the fact that there is less competition."
Montgomerie's new caddie Steve Rawlinson, who moved from Australian Stephen Leaney last week to replace fellow Briton Andy Prodger, will be with him this week and the Scot felt his new bag man would help his game.
"He's a real character and I think you'll see me smiling a little bit more than I have done on the golf course because he is funny," said Montgomerie.
Another man looking for a boost this weekend, New Zealander Michael Campbell, could provide Montgomerie with the sort of opposition he does not want. Campbell has played only three European Tour-counting events this year to sit 129th on the money-list after a miserable seven events on the US Tour where he missed every cut.
He will also be looking to change his fortunes after suffering a debilitating shoulder injury in March before the Bayhill Invitational. Campbell, who finished eighth on the European money list in 2002, has set himself a target of finishing higher this year even if he will have his work cut out to play his 11 mandatory European events.
Making his Celtic Manor debut could be a turning-point, the Brighton resident said: "It was hard for three months in America with my family and having no base. Here it's nice to get home and have somewhere to hang my hat for a couple of weeks."
In a bid to kick-start his season, Campbell has changed his putter, having missed, he said, 15 putts of no more than 10ft in the last two rounds of the Volvo PGA Championship last weekend.
Ian Woosnam, 45, is also in the field and will be trying to win his home title for the first time.
Bureau Report
Seven-times European number one Montgomerie is looking to elevate himself from 31st in the tour rankings with none of the current top-seven on duty at the 2010 Ryder Cup venue.
With defending champion Paul Lawrie of Scotland also absent with an injured neck, Montgomerie is delighted at having a better chance to win at the 409,000 dollars event.
"This is a big prize fund and I'm surprised it hasn't attracted a stronger field," said the Scot, 40 next month. "But I'm also glad it hasn't in the fact that there is less competition."
Montgomerie's new caddie Steve Rawlinson, who moved from Australian Stephen Leaney last week to replace fellow Briton Andy Prodger, will be with him this week and the Scot felt his new bag man would help his game.
"He's a real character and I think you'll see me smiling a little bit more than I have done on the golf course because he is funny," said Montgomerie.
Another man looking for a boost this weekend, New Zealander Michael Campbell, could provide Montgomerie with the sort of opposition he does not want. Campbell has played only three European Tour-counting events this year to sit 129th on the money-list after a miserable seven events on the US Tour where he missed every cut.
He will also be looking to change his fortunes after suffering a debilitating shoulder injury in March before the Bayhill Invitational. Campbell, who finished eighth on the European money list in 2002, has set himself a target of finishing higher this year even if he will have his work cut out to play his 11 mandatory European events.
Making his Celtic Manor debut could be a turning-point, the Brighton resident said: "It was hard for three months in America with my family and having no base. Here it's nice to get home and have somewhere to hang my hat for a couple of weeks."
In a bid to kick-start his season, Campbell has changed his putter, having missed, he said, 15 putts of no more than 10ft in the last two rounds of the Volvo PGA Championship last weekend.
Ian Woosnam, 45, is also in the field and will be trying to win his home title for the first time.
Bureau Report