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Monty predicts European success at Open

11/07/2007

Colin Montgomerie has said that next week's Open at Carnoustie represents the best chance for a European major winner in eight years.

The last European to claim victory in a major championship is Paul Lawrie, who won the 1999 Open at the same course and Montgomerie says the Scottish venue should suit a number of the British and Irish players.

Montgomerie ended his own two-year title drought by winning the European Open at the K Club last week and said that it was time that the continent's team success translated on to the PGA Tour

"It is time we turned our Ryder Cup success into major championship success," the 44-year-old Scot said.

"We have more players capable of it than ever before but [Ireland's] Padraig Harrington and [England's] Paul Casey would be my picks."

Montgomerie refused to talk up his own chances of landing a first major at the 2007 Open, but said he was looking forward to playing in front of his home crowd at the Angus links.

Nevertheless, he said he finds it difficult to see past world number one Tiger Woods for the claret jug.

"It is possible to beat Tiger but then again, he won the last two majors last year and he might well do the same again," the eight-time European Order of Merit winner continued.

"Let's hope not – let's hope we have European success sooner rather than later."

The first round of the Open begins one week from tomorrow on Thursday July 19th.

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