Losing Tiger Woods from next fortnight’s Open Championship would be a huge blow to the game’s oldest Major.
That’s Colin Montgomerie’s view as the Scot looks to secure his own place at Royal St. George’s through this week’s French Open.
Monty needs to finish among the top five in Versailles, and higher than any other non-exempt player.
But while Monty faces a real task to contest his 21st straight Open Championship, most pre-Open interest centres on Woods who has been side-lined since mid-May with knee and Achilles injuries.
And in attending his AT & T National hosted event in Pennsylvania earlier this week, the former long-time World No. 1 does not know when he will next compete.
“I will come back when I’m 100% fit, and I don’t know when that’s going to be,” said Woods.
“I’m just playing it by ear right now. I’ve not hit any balls yet. I want to be out there playing, but I’m not ready yet.”
If the three-time champion Woods does miss The Open, it will only the second time in 17 years since he played as an amateur in the 1995 Open he will not contest the season’s third Major.
“It would be a huge blow not onto to The Open but to golf, in general,” said Monty.
“I heard the news on TV in my hotel here and I thought to myself ‘what’s all this about Tiger in doubt for The Open’.
“He said he came back too early for the TPC and he’s now not doing that again.
“But we are all under this banner of thinking if this physical or is mental as that seems to be what all the talk is about.
“We just hope he does play Royal St. George’s as he will be missed. It will be a great miss for the event.”
And what also surprised Monty in tuning into the latest Woods fitness update, was to learn the crestfallen American has slumped to No. 17 in the World Rankings.
The last occasion Woods was anywhere near No. 17 in the world was the last week of January, 1997 when he was ranked No. 22.
Woods then went to No. 14 a week later and to No. 3 in winning the Masters by a dozen shots but not moving to No. 1 till mid-January 1998 when he deposed Australia’s Greg Norman atop of the rankings.
“I thought to myself ‘what! Tiger Woods is now No. 17 in the world,” said Monty.
“Really, world number 17. Has he ever been world No. 17?”
But while Woods remains in doubt, Monty strives to continue an unbroken run of 21 straight Open appearances since making his debut in 1990 at St. Andrews.
“Even though Tiger may not be playing The Open, my goal this week, and if necessary at Castle Stuart, is to secure that last Royal St. Georges’ spot,” Monty added.
“I’ve a good record here in Versailles.
“I won here in 2000 and I was third in 2007 and second a year later in ’08. I like this golf course.
“And the last time I played golf anywhere near Castle Stuart was at Nairn where I won 1987 Scottish Amateur title.
“And I was not World No. 17 either (laughing)”
Monty is among 10 Scots teeing up on the recently appointed 2018 Ryder Cup host venue with Border’s David Drysdale enjoying the honour of leading out the field but looking come the weekend to break 70 in 19 rounds of golf this year since a 67 in January’s Joburg Open.
Joining Monty and Drysdale is Edinburgh’s Lloyd Saltman who is contesting his first French Open.
