Monty will win a major: Tiger

TIGER WOODS has hailed Colin Montgomerie's eight European Order of Merit titles as "truly one of the remarkable feats of modern golf" and believes the Scot can one day win a major.

But Montgomerie has had little time to rest on his laurels after his record-breaking feat. Despite feeling "physically and mentally whacked" he is in Shanghai this week for the start of the new campaign - and has Woods to contend with at the €4.2m HSBC Champions tournament.

They are paired together for the opening two rounds of Asian golf's richest ever event, with the world number one commenting: "We battled this year at the Open and it's always a lot of fun competing against Monty because he's one of the best competitors out there.

"Monty winning eight (Order of Merit titles) is truly one of the remarkable feats of modern golf because of the consistency that is takes to do that. As far as winning a major championship in the future, I can certainly see Monty doing that because he still has the game to do it."

There is mutual admiration between the two. When told of Woods' assessment of his eight money list crowns, the 42-year-old Scot raised his eyebrows and said: "That was nice of him - I appreciate it coming from him.

"As for his achievements I can't say any more than anyone else has said. I truly believe that we have the best sportsman in the world playing the game of golf right now. Who could say that he would have won 10 majors before he was 30? And who knows if he can't go on to have 19 majors in the bag? It would be astonishing to beat the one record (Jack Nicklaus' 18) we always thought would remain safe."

Montgomerie has never won a tournament in which the American has been playing, but in finishing second to him at the British Open in July did outscore him - 70 to 71 - in the one round when they were playing partners. That was the springboard for Montgomerie to go on to clinch yet another Order of Merit at Valderrama two weeks ago, but the effort of it all took its toll.

"I was very tired and lethargic afterwards. It was such a draining experience," said the Scot, whose caddie Alastair McLean also had the "jet-lag" feeling for days.

Montgomerie's mind was alert enough yesterday though, not to be caught out when a reporter asked him when he might win a major.

"April," he responded. "I would love to achieve it one day and the second Sunday in April is on the agenda." This is the final day of the Masters.

World number two Vijay Singh and Ireland's Padraig Harrington, like Woods, have had even further to travel to compete for a first prize of over €700,000. They were all in Atlanta last week. Singh finished second to Woods on the US Tour money list with over e6m, but after winning it last year and grabbing the world number one spot the Fijian does not rate the season a success.

"I got very complacent. I kind of slowed down with the way I was practising and the way I was working out. There were a lot more obligations and they got in the way."

This week's event is primarily designed to bring the past season's winners together, so it is easy to understand Sandy Lyle's delight at being part of the 75-man field. His last victory was 1992 and he lost his European tour card last month.

The 47-year-old received a sponsor's invitation last week and so had to change plans that included cleaning drains at his Scottish home. Lyle finished 147 places behind Montgomerie on the Order of Merit.

Ireland's Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell are also in the field bidding for the big prize.