Monty still finds reasons to dream

WHILE Todd Hamilton was astonishing everybody, beating Ernie Els in the Open Championship play-off, Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were among those left to ponder on what might have been.

While Montgomerie claimed he could take many positives from the occasion, not least the feeling that he can still challenge for a major championship provided the breaks go his way, Woods had to face up to the fact that he is still without a major title since the 2002 US Open.

And while he finished in a tie for 9th on three under par, he was never a factor where winning was concerned as the leaders came down the stretch. As for Mickelson, third place after winning at Augusta and coming in second at Shinnecock Hills means that he has fully regained his status as one of the game's finest having gone through a bad time in 2003.