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Monty snaps up Casey's ex-caddie

25/06/2007

Colin Montgomerie has hired Craig Connolly, who used to carry the clubs of fellow Briton Paul Casey, to be his caddie for the forthcoming French Open.

The position has proved a difficult one for Montgomerie to fill after his 17-year partnership with Alastair McLean came to an end in the run-up to the US Open earlier this month.

McLean was dropped by Montgomerie after his failure to make the cut at the Austrian Open - the latest in a string of disappointing results this season that have seen him fail to break into the top 15 of a European tournament.

The pair have parted ways before in 2002, although they were reunited just prior to Montgomerie's storming performance in the 2004 Ryder Cup.

It appears that this split is similarly long-term with Mongomerie's manager Guy Kinnings claiming that a list of 30 possible replacements have been drawn up.

Connolly will apparently have the chance to impress his prospective employer in Paris before finding out if he is to be hired on a more permanent basis.

Connolly found himself seeking a new position after accompanying Casey to a 10th-place finish in the US Open.

There had been rumours that he would be at Montgomerie's side for last week's BMW International Open in Munich, but the speculation was left untested after the player was forced out of the event through illness.

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