Monty Ends Agonising Gailes Wait To Qualify For Royal Troon Open.

Colin Montgomerie celebrated what he says will be his last Royal Troon Open after having endured an agonising wait before confirmation of having qualified for next month’s Open Championship.

Monty, who celebrated his 53rd birthday last Thursday, posted scores of scores of 66 and 71 for a five under par tally at the Gailes GC course and just outside of Glasgow.

It will be Monty’s first Open since finishing T68th in the 2010 Open at St. Andrews.

However Monty’s place in a 22nd Open all depended on fellow Scot Jack Hume who had moved to five under par and with six holes to play.

Colin Montgomerie qualifies for 2016 Open at Gailes

Colin Montgomerie qualifies for 2016 Open at Gailes. (Photo – R & A)

But Hume stalled and in fact dropped a shot at the 15th to end with scores of 68 and 70, and looking back played his last 11 holes in one over par and then could have forced a play-off had he holed a long birdie putt.

Monty made his Open debut in 1990 at St. Andrews and has since celebrated 21 Open’s since then and that time with a best of a distant second place and five shots behind Tiger Woods in 2005.

“It means the world to me and I look forward now to be playing in The Open,” said Monty.

“So I am delighted to do so as I had an opportunity in the Senior Open as I was two ahead with two holes to play and didn’t win.  Then of course you think to yourself ‘you’ve blown it’.

“So it’s been nice to come here to Gailes with 72 players, in a high-quality field, and to finish third and is all one had to do to qualify.

“So looking back it’s golf’s longest day, but it’s been worth it.

“This is very special. I’ll be enjoying every minute of it at Royal Troon. This was my last chance to play in the Open at Troon. The next time it comes around I’ll be 65 and I won’t be allowed to play. My qualifying days are behind me after this.”



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