Monty at ease with favourite tag

COLIN MONTGOMERIE, who next week misses his first major in 13 years, is still rated favourite for the £1.4m Diageo Championship at Gleneagles starting today.

And that is the way he sees it too.

"I feel favourite here definitely," said the 40-year-old Scot, who failed to qualify for the US Open and on June 28 will play a qualifying competition for the Open.

When his marriage broke up six weeks ago Montgomerie thought it might be months before he was back challenging for titles.

"I want to prove myself wrong," said the seven-time European number one, who was back using a standard-length putter in yesterday's pro-am after a terrible time on the greens in the final round of the Wales Open on Sunday.

Montgomerie fell from fourth to 15th by having 38 putts.

"That's about eight more than average, so I turned a 66 into a 74."

Former Ryder Cup partner Paul Lawrie is the only US Open-bound player taking part this week, but after the wins of Scott Drummond and Simon Khan in the last two weeks, Montgomerie knows the competition is not to be dismissed lightly.

"Anybody who enters is capable of winning. I don't think you could say that 10 years ago I had about 25 guys to beat. Now it's 125."

This is his first competitive appearance in his home country since his personal problems were made public and he can expect an even warmer reception than he has received in England and Wales.

"The support has helped me. Whatever the public think of me, I think they respect me as a golfer. From the personal letters I've received after Ryder Cups you can see what it means to the general public."

Meanwhile, the next stage of Scott Drummond's sporting life starts today when he sets out to show he can handle his new celebrity status.

From the depths of 435th in the world and after seven missed cuts in his previous eight events, Drummond won the Volvo PGA Championship with a dazzling display at Wentworth.

After a week off to let it all sink in, the 30-year-old European Tour rookie returns at Gleneagles.

"The expectation levels are higher from everyone," Drummond said.

"But I am still me and I will just go out and do my best. Nobody wants to be a one-hit wonder. It would be lovely to follow that result with a nice performance here, but I'm trying not to put too much extra pressure on myself this week or the next few weeks to get another top 10 or anything like that.

"I have always played with financial pressure, trying to get on the tour, but now it is a different pressure. It's a nice one to have."

In the Wales Open on Sunday Simon Khan, 255th in the world, beat Ryder Cup hopeful Paul Casey in a play-off. The shocks keep on coming.

"Once one person has done it, it gives everybody that extra self-belief and they know it is not impossible.

"Everybody wants to win and people aren't afraid to win whether it's their first year or not, they know it can be done."

One event he can target is, of course, the Ryder Cup in September.

"It is quite hard for me to comprehend, but I am in a great position (13th in the race for the 10 automatic spots) and I am aware that if I can string a few steady results together there is a chance."