Monty at ease with favourites tag

Colin Montgomerie, who next week misses his first major in 13 years, is still rated favourite for the Diageo Championship at Gleneagles starting tomorrow.

And that is the way he sees it too.

“I feel favourite here – definitely,” said the 40-year-old Scot, who failed to qualify for the US Open and on June 28 will play a qualifying competition for the Open.

When his marriage broke up six weeks ago Montgomerie thought it might be months before he was back challenging for titles.

“I want to prove myself wrong,” added the seven-time European number one, who was back using a standard-length putter in today’s pro-am after a terrible time on the greens in the final round of the Wales Open on Sunday.

Montgomerie fell from fourth to 15th by having 38 putts. “That’s about eight more than average, so I turned a 66 into a 74.”

Former Ryder Cup partner Paul Lawrie is the only US Open-bound player taking part this week, but after the wins of Scott Drummond and Simon Khan the last two weeks Montgomerie knows that the level of competition is not to be dismissed lightly.

“Anybody who enters is capable of winning now. I don’t think you could say that 10 years ago – I had about 25 guys to beat. Now it’s 125.”

This is his first competitive appearance in his home country since his personal problems were made public and he can expect an even warmer reception than he has received in England and Wales.

“The support has helped me through. Whatever the public think of me I think they do respect me as a golfer. From the personal letters I’ve received after Ryder Cups you can see what it means to the general public.”