Monty withdraws from BMW Open

Colin Montgomerie has pulled out of this week’s BMW International Open in Munich to rest his back.

The seven-time European No 1 withdrew from the NEC World Championship after nine holes of the second round in Seattle last Friday.

"I’m really disappointed to be missing an event I’ve always enjoyed," said Montgomerie today.

Since his return home at the weekend the 39-year-old Scot has been undergoing more treatment for a problem which now threatens him playing a full role in the Ryder Cup in four weeks time.

His next scheduled appearances are the German Masters in Cologne in a fortnight and the American Express World Championship at Mount Juliet in Ireland the following week,

Montgomerie scrapped the English Open last year when the trouble first flared and then quit the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth at the start of this season.

The problem returned with a vengeance in Germany in May, but he still managed to take Tiger Woods to a play-off before losing.

He was also runner-up in the Volvo PGA Championship and fourth in the British Masters the following two weeks while receiving intensive treatment.

Assured he did not need surgery, he has embarked on a new fitness and diet regime, but has so far lost only 15 of the 35lbs he was told he needed to.

Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance says he has already taken into consideration the possibility that Montgomerie may not be able to play a maximum five games at the Belfry.

"It might be a bit much," he said. "I might not push him."