Monty’s dream of 14th Masters doomed

COLIN MONTGOMERIE’S dream of playing in a 14th successive Masters is doomed after officials at Augusta failed to offer him a special invitation for the first major of the year.

Invitations went instead to US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman, Australia’s Craig Parry, South African Tim Clark, Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and American Joe Ogilvie. Forty-one-year-old Monty did not manage to qualify by right after failing to win back his place in the world’s top 50 ahead of Monday’s cut-off date.

Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam last night said it was “a shame” that Monty has not been handed a special invite. “He’s been one of the great golfers over the last 15 years and it’s a shame,” said Woosnam, who as the 1991 Masters champion is exempt for life like Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle.