Brier sees life through the eye of the Tiger

It may be stretching it a little to compare him to Tiger Woods, but Markus Brier now understands at least some of what the world number one has to cope with.

Brier was today beginning the defence of his Austrian Open title at Fontana Golf Club, and admitted it was something of a relief to get out on to the golf course.

“It’s been very exciting but quite difficult with so much attention in the media,” said Brier, the first Austrian to win on the European Tour when he held off Soren Hansen by three shots last year.

“Of course, I understand the obligations with the media and I’ve enjoyed it but it makes me realise what Tiger probably has to do every week.

“It’s not so common for me yet but I appreciate you probably have to learn when to say no to certain things and choose a bit.

“But, it’s okay, I’ve had a good season so far (winning his second tour title in Shanghai in April) and it was a big thing to be recognised as the Tour’s golfer of the month.

“I missed the cut in Ireland but still made the front pages here because I was player of the month, which is good because it shows they appreciate the golf now.”

Brier was among the early starters today, alongside Ryder Cup duo Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.

Colin Montgomerie, looking for his first tournament win in 18 months, was among the later starters alongside Paul Broadhurst and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Montgomerie victory drought stretches back to December 2005 in Hong Kong and the 43-year-old admitted “something had to change” after a third-round 72, three over par, sent him crashing out of contention in last week’s Wales Open.

As he has done before, the despondent Scot then drove home to Surrey and got up at 4am to make the return trip for an 8.30am start on Sunday.

However, a closing 63 at Celtic Manor was enough to lift the storm clouds overhead and the eight-time European number one arrived in Vienna in upbeat mood ahead of the upcoming US Open at Oakmont, the course on which he lost a play-off to Ernie Els and Loren Roberts in 1994.