The move by Colin Montgomerie to the Champions Tour is certainly a gain for the over-50 year golfing brigade.

But it is also a big loss to the golf writers working the European Tour.

That was no more prevalent when Monty visited the Media Center on the eve of this week’s Turkish Airlines Open.

Not only is it again a special week for Monty as the event is being played on the Maxx Royal course he designed but also it is the occasion of his 600th European Tour event.

Only one player, who is still competing regularly on the Tour, has played more and that is Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez who will tee up in his 642nd tournament tomorrow.

Not for a first time in his career, Monty again kept the press entertained with his views on playing 600 Tour events to his thoughts on the PGA of America appointing a ‘task force’ in the wake of losing the recent Ryder Cup and also his views of Rory McIlroy winning a second Race to Dubai title.

However throughout Monty’s post Pro-Am round there was a golf bag full of emotions from the eight-time former European Tour No. 1 as the selection of snaps below clearly reveal.