If Rory McIlroy does return to the fray this week in defence of his PGA Championship crown, Colin Montgomerie hopes the Irishman is in the right shape to do so.

TOM WATSON will begin his third major mission in as many weeks today when he tees off at the US Senior Open at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana.

One of America’s emerging stars may have dealt his hopes of a Ryder Cup debut in September a huge blow by claiming players are “just a slave that week” and raising the possibility of a boycott of the event in future.