Sandwich, July 18: Colin Montgomerie has withdrawn from the Open after completing just seven holes of the course at Sandwich. The Scot was four over par, seven behind early leader Hennie Otto, when he decided he was unable to continue.
He revealed that a freak accident on the way to breakfast had scuppered his hopes of winning a first Major. He told reporters that he had fallen and taken the impact on his right hand and both knees.

"I couldn't believe it was raining and as I looked up I tripped over a step and fell nastily," said Montgomerie. "I knew right away that it was a bad one, my hand's very swollen," he added. "I tried to play on but I couldn't keep my drives straight and had to come in.
"The only reason I gave it a go was because it was the Open.
"But I just had no authority through the ball. It's disappointing because I was swinging the club very well and the course is set up well for me.



"I will just have to try again on the home course (Royal Troon) next year.

"I'll have an X-ray later, but hopefully nothing is broken."



He has already withdrawn from next week's Irish Open. Of the other Scots competing this week, Sandy Lyle, Open champion in 1985 at Sandwich, was first back to the clubhouse. He hit a two-over-par 73, with dropped shots at the second and the last the only flaws in his round.



Alastair Forsyth looked set to finish among the leaders until a nightmare triple-bogey at the 17th ruined his round. That gave him a three-over-par total of 72, after two birdies and two bogeys earlier in the round.



Afterwards, he admitted that his first Open had been a tough challenge. "I played really well but I'm obviously disappointed with how it went at the 17th," he added. "I was furious with myself because I had played well all day."



Qualifier Euan Little started well but a run of three double-bogeys at the 14th, 15th and 16th saw him eventually post a nine-over-par 80. The 27-year-old was one under after seven, but dropped shots at the eighth, ninth and 13th, before his horrendous run, which culiminated in a final bogey at the 18th.



Another former Open champion, Paul Lawrie had an equally hard time of it. Five bogeys and three double-bogeys mean he is unlikely to make the cut at 10-over-par.


Bureau Report