Monty fails in US Open qualifier

News

bruced
June 1, 2011

Colin Montgomerie’s hopes of qualifying for the upcoming US Open at Congressional have failed.

Three-time runner-up Colin Montgomerie failed to qualify for this year’s US Open after shooting a one-over par total of 145 at Walton Heath on Monday.

The 47-year-old finished seventh in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth – his first top-10 finish in nearly three years – but could not carry this sparkling form over into Monday.

The biggest drama of the qualifier, however involved fellow Scot Richie Ramsay, who missed teeing of in the play-off for last place with Swede Johan Edfors and Dane Andreas Harto.

The three were set to decide the last of the 11 spots on offer at the qualifier, but Ramsay had already left the course to catch a plane to Belfast to attend the wedding reception of fellow professional Gareth Maybin.

A fog delay meant play started three-and-a-half hours late, with the play-off taking place after 9pm. Rain had been falling for much of the day.

Ramsay, who missed his flight, arrived back at the Surrey course too late to take his place in a play-off he was convinced would not be possible in the fading light.

“It’s just been an horrific day – an awful, awful day,” he said.

“As I left it was 5.30pm and guys were teeing off the first. I actually feel physically sick – I can’t believe they played when it was pitch dark.”

To this Montgomerie said: “If you don’t enter you can’t win – I gave it a go. It was hard work – it was miserable out there.”

In-form Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts secured victory with his nine-under par total, one shot ahead of runner-up Shane Lowry of Ireland.

England’s Robert Rock, Richard Dinwiddie and David Howell as well as Scot Stephen Gallacher were the Brits who qualified together with Colsaerts, Lowry and Edfors, Frenchman Thomas Levet, Dutchman Martin, German’s Marcel Siem and Sweden’s Alexander Noren.

Ross Fisher also missed out but still has a chance to qualify if he can make it into the world’s top 50 by the end of next week. He is currently 52nd.

Home