Monty heads for top 50

Colin Montgomerie’s fourth-place finish in the Dubai Desert Classic has lifted him seven places in the world rankings to 56th.

The 41-year-old Scot, who began the year 81st, is trying to get back into the top 50 to earn places in the Players’ Championship in Florida in two weeks and then next month’s Masters.

After a week off he probably needs to play even better in next week’s TCL Classic in China to achieve his first objective. The cut-off point for the Masters is a week later.

Montgomerie was playing in another tournament today, but it did not carry any ranking points. It was the Abu Dhabi World Sand Championship.