Monty determined to bounce back

Colin Montgomerie admits it will be a few months before he “turns the corner” – but he is confident his form will return.

The Scotsman has seen his form dip after his personal life was plunged into turmoil and he is currently going through a painful divorce from wife Eimear.

The 40-year-old suffered disappointment at the weekend when he failed to win a top-six place at the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth but he is already looking ahead to the future.

Monty will take part in the Wales Open later this week – before making the trip to Sunningdale for qualifying for the Open – and he insists he can feel his competitive streak returning.

He said: “I have not turned the corner yet – it will take a few months but it will happen.

“I am going to Wales with a different aspect and I am becoming more competitive again which, of course, you have to do.

“The standard is so high now and I need to get my competitive hat on. It has been a while but I will get it on again.”

Montgomerie’s mood has improved since the weekend – when he indicated he would not bother attempting to qualify for either the US Open or the Open. He now appears to have had a change of heart about trying to qualify for the Open in his home town of Troon at least.

Now he is looking for a confidence-booster at Celtic Manor ahead of next week’s Diageo Championship at Gleneagles.

He added: “I have got to start thinking about the future now. I am lucky that I have the game of golf and I will be doing my damnedest in Wales to try to finish well there to get some confidence to go up to Gleneagles with.

“I finished well there last year – in the top four – and I am looking forward to going back there.”