Seve back - but Monty reunion must wait

Seve Ballesteros is scheduled to make his return to the European tour in Paris tomorrow – but Colin Montgomerie will not be there to see it.

Montgomerie last night decided to pull out of the 100th anniversary French Open at Le Golf National to recover from what his management company called “mental exhaustion”.

The 43-year-old Scot, who suffered more major disappointment when he double-bogeyed the final hole of the US Open 10 days ago and finished one behind Geoff Ogilvy, had played seven tournaments in a row including last week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

But he will now take a rest before the countdown to the Open at Hoylake begins with next week’s European Open in Dublin. He was second to Ferrie in that event last year and went on two weeks later to be runner-up to Tiger Woods at St Andrews.

Ten of the world’s top 50 are competing in France – led by David Howell, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson and Padraig Harrington on his return from finishing second to Ben Curtis in America yesterday. But Ballesteros’ latest comeback provides another focal point.

The former Open and Masters champion played his first tournament for two years in Madrid last October but finished down near the rest of the field and has been on the sidelines again ever since.

He has entered for the Open, however, and felt his game was in good enough shape to play this week as well.