Sandwich, July 17: Colin Montgomerie believes he is still among the favourites to win this week's Open, despite not having won a tournament all season.
Monty, who finished a disappointing 53rd in last week's Scottish Open, says he feels the Royal St George's course is ideal for him to finally break his Major duck. The Scot is aiming to get back to the relaxed mood that saw him perform so well at the Ryder Cup and hopes that that, combined with the course set-up, will help him to victory.
Montgomerie is considered by many to be the best player never to have won any of the four Majors, but he said on Wednesday: "I still feel I'm one of the favourites to win here.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think that. I have a 10 out of 10 chance of winning and I'm ambitious to win here. "It's a matter of being as relaxed as I was at the Ryder Cup.



"I've got to wake up tomorrow (Thursday) wanting to enjoy the day ahead and be as relaxed as possible.



"I need some fire to keep the ambition going but I am more relaxed. I'm enjoying what I'm doing more than I was 10 years ago. If I had played like I did last September I would probably have won this event by now.



"But I'm not frustrated at not winning an Open. If I finished my career and had not won a Major, I'd still look back at a very successful career.



"It's just a matter of crossing that final hurdle."



Montgomerie believes the severity of the burnished fairways and the accent on accuracy over power at Royal St George's suits his style of play.



"This course brings in those who are tactically minded," he said. "That's people like myself, Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer, and it will be interesting to see how we do against the younger generation."


Bureau Report