Colin Montgomerie will draw on Bernhard Langer’s achievements for inspiration when he heads to the Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Sunningdale, where he hopes to add a Senior Open trophy to his illustrious CV.
Montgomerie was runner-up behind Langer in last year’s Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl, finishing some 13 shots behind his rival despite entering the week as the favourite, having made a stunning start to his first full season on the over-50s circuit.
On just his third senior Major appearance, the 51 year old Scot triumphed at the US Senior PGA Championship Presented by KitchenAid in May, then doubled his tally less than two months later at the US Senior Open, showing form reminiscent of his halcyon days of the nineties and early noughties, when he won an unprecedented eight European Tour Order of Merit titles.
Now he is determined to complete the Senior Major hat-trick at Sunningdale from July 23-26 and emulate Langer, who followed a runner-up finish in the Senior Open Championship in 2013 by going one better a year later.
“I really look forward to trying to emulate Bernhard, who was second in 2013 and winner in 2014,” said Montgomerie, who won the Senior Tour Order of Merit last year. “Let’s hope I can do something very similar.
“His performance at Royal Porthcawl was extraordinary, one of the best performances in senior golf ever. He will take some beating at Sunningdale as he knows the place well, as will a number of guys – we’ve got a very strong field with the likes of Tom Watson, Freddie Couples, Ian Woosnam, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Kenny Perry.
“So we’ve got a great field, and that’s what Sunningdale does – it brings that type of field together.”
Next week, Montgomerie will defend a Major for the first time in his career, at the US Senior PGA Championship at French Lick in Indiana, but he cannot help but think ahead to July and what lies in store on the Old Course at the iconic Surrey venue.
“My first competitive round at Sunningdale was in 1987, which was the Walker Cup,” he continued. “Ever since I first played it I’ve loved the place and I’ve always said it’s a gorgeous place to be, not just to play golf but to walk round.
“It’s fantastic that we’re able to go back there and it’ll be a great success – Sunningdale always is. It’s a unique place to play golf and a lovely place to be.
“I was runner-up in The 2005 Open Championship to Tiger Woods and I was runner-up last year to Langer, so I’ve got two salvers from R&A events and I’d love to have a Senior Open trophy.”
Discounted advanced tickets to see Montgomerie and a host of other legendary players in action are already on sale
here
Season tickets cost just £70, while one day tickets are £25 and Wednesday practice day tickets are only £12. Under 16s are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult and parking is also free.
