Golf: Monty back for US Open challenge

Barring a last-minute setback, Colin Montgomerie was on his way to the US Open today following a weekend of intensive treatment.

Scotland’s world number nine pulled out of the English Open after three holes of his second round on Friday because of lower back pains and immediately sought out a London specialist.

‘‘He is very happy with how it’s gone and all the arrangements are in place for him to travel as planned,’’ said manager Guy Kinnings.

Montgomerie conducted his own fitness test yesterday afternoon, hitting his first shots since he left the Forest of Arden.

Assuming he suffered no setback he will be at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, tomorrow, but probably taking things easy at first rather than risking a recurrence.

The seven-time European number one played at the course in the 1994 United States PGA, finishing 36th.