Colin Montgomerie has vowed to stay local to the European Tour despite making his seniors debut next week in Pennsylvania.
After being behind a microphone at last week’s US Open in suburban Philadelphia, Monty will be inside the ropes at the Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh for the Senior Players Championship.
But foremost for Monty is that he among 11 former champions teeing up in this week’s 25th anniversary BMW International Open in Munich.
It is the first of a four week stretch for Monty who will also tee-up on Tuesday July 2nd in a 36-hole Open Championship Local Final Qualifier in the Muirfield region.
Colin Montgomerie with one of his ‘infamous’ stares on the first hole during Wednesday’s BMW International Pro-Am. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
And if successful in winning through to a first Open Championship in three years it will mean five events in succession for the aging Scot.
“Three of the four events I’m playing, namely this week, the French Open and the Scottish Open are events I’ve won in the past so that’s always good motivation,” said Monty.
“Next week I’m making my seniors debut and that’s going to be exciting but then as I am flying to the States on Monday it means missing Monday’s Open Championship qualifier at Sunningdale.
“So I have entered instead Local Final Qualifying which is up around North Berwick, Gullane and Musselburgh and try and get into The Open that way.
“I’ve got Fox Chapel Golf Club and I believe I haven’t been there, so I don’t know what to expect.
“But even though I’ll be playing seniors tour you won’t lose me on the main European Tour as I will also play the Turkish Open at the end of the year and a few other events.
“So you’ll still be seeing a lot more of me on the main European Tour.”
Joining Monty is nine other Scots including Chris Doak who is among 18 players who contested last week’s US Open.
Doak missed the cut with scores of 73 and 77 in his first Major appearance and has returned to Europe excited about using the experience of competing at Merion.
“It was a great experience and while it would have been nice to play all four rounds, I just never really played well and Merion was a course where you could not get away with not playing well,” said the Glasgow-born golfer.
“But the whole week was great including the crowds who were very expressive in contrast to European crowds, and maybe because they had a few beers in them.”
Among the first to greet Doak when he got back to Glasgow was his dog, Herbie.
“I got back to Glasgow at 7am on Monday and was flying out here to Munich at 6pm that same day,” said Doak.
“I managed to get a few hours sleep but then Herbie was my alarm call with a face full of saliva (laughing).
“But I was very tired on Tuesday and only played nine holes.
“I also came back with an overhead locker full of gift items from the pro shop including a lot of Merion commemorative flags that I got signed and will be great items for charity auctions.
“But the best aspect I brought home was that I feel I can compete at that level and I only missed the cut by two shots which wasn’t all that bad.
“So it was a good positive experience and what with some very big tournaments now coming up including the Scottish Open and hopefully The Open.”
And after playing a course where Justin Rose won with a one over par score, Doak will tee up on a German course where the record 72-hole score is 27-over par.
While a first Race to Dubai success is top of Doak’s list of goals he also is staring at next Monday’s 36-hole Open Championship qualifier at Sunningdale.
And if successful, it will mean a second straight Major appearance.
