A WEEK away from trying yet again for his first major triumph, Colin Montgomerie says he wants to be a Ryder Cup player rather than a Ryder Cup captain for as long as he can.

Colin Montgomerie went into the second round of the US Open at Winged Foot today with a one-shot lead – and armed with an inner belief that an elusive first major title is still a possibility.

David Howell has played just three rounds in the US Open, and is a total of 23 over par for the event.

The 1974 US Open at Winged Foot was nicknamed ‘The Massacre’. Tiger Woods has called parts of this year’s course “brutal”.

Marcus Tregoning has warned followers of his Vodafone Derby winner Sir Percy to hold their bets on the colt for the Irish equivalent on July 2.