Colin Montgomerie, the most successful European golfer for the past decade and a pivotal member of last year’’s victorious Ryder Cup Team, is to play in The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open next month.
Montgomerie, winner of the Volvo Order of Merit seven times in succession from 1993 to 1999, has confirmed he will make his debut in the £1.5m tournament from May 29-June 1.
Also set to take part are defending champion Paul Lawrie, inspirational Ryder Cup European captain Sam Torrance, and former World Number One Ian Woosnam, of Wales.
“Colin is a sporting legend and it is a genuine thrill for all involved in the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open to have him appear in our event,” said Tournament Chairman Andy Stanton. “He is one of the great names of golf and his participation can only help to elevate the status of the competition still further.”
Montgomerie, 39, has recorded over 30 tournament victories around the world and earned more prize money than any British golfer in history. Turning professional in 1987, he won his first European Tour title at the 1989 Portuguese Open and became Europe’’s Number One in 1993 - a position he retained for an unprecedented run of seven years.
Montgomerie said: “I am really looking forward to playing in the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open for the first time. I think it will be great preparation for the US Open Championship.”
Former Open Golf Championship winner Paul Lawrie is returning to what has become a happy hunting ground. Runner-up in the 2001 Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, he made certain of the title in 2002, leading from the second round to claim a five shot victory.
Torrance, who returns to Celtic Manor for the fourth consecutive year, famously captained the European Ryder Cup Team to victory in The 34th Ryder Cup Matches -17 years after holing the winning putt at the same venue which ended a 28-year drought in the event for the home side.
The winner of 21 European Tour titles and the first golfer in Tour history to notch up 600 tournaments, he has played in eight Ryder Cup Teams since 1981 and was awarded the OBE in the 2003 New Year Honours List for his inspired captaincy of the team.
Ian Woosnam is another player heading back to Celtic Manor for the fourth time. His professional career stretches back to 1976 and boasts 44 titles worldwide, including the 1991 Masters Tournament. He has won 29 European Tour titles, including the 1988 and 1997 Volvo PGA Championship, 1988 European Open, 1994 British Masters and 1996 German Open.
In 2001, he became the first player to capture the World Match Play Championship in three separate decades – and, at 43, the oldest winner – at Wentworth Club, beating Padraig Harrington in an epic final.
Having twice headed the Volvo Order of Merit – in 1987 and 1990 - he also competed in eight Ryder Cups between 1983 and 1997, and was Sam Torrance’’s Vice Captain in 2002.
This year’’s Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, the week after the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, has seen a doubling of the prize fund since the inaugural event in 2000. The event will again be played on The Celtic Manor Resort’’s Wentwood Hills course, venue for The 2010 Ryder Cup Matches.
