Montgomerie expecting Europeans to dominate

Having failed to qualify for the first time since 1989, Montgomerie would not be in the least bit surprised to see a European 1-2-3 at Sandwich.

No prizes for guessing that US Open champion Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are the players he can most easily picture leading the race for the Claret Jug. As for the order in which they will finish, however, Montgomerie could not be pinned down. “They are all good enough to win,” he said.

Three years ago at Royal Birkdale, Padraig Harrington was first, Ian Poulter second and Henrik Stenson third, but the Swede shared that position with Australian Greg Norman.

In 1938, it was an outright 1-2-3 – Reg Whitcombe, one of three brothers in the field and runner-up the previous year, beat Jimmy Adams by two and defending champion Henry Cotton by three. The leading non-European was South African Bobby Locke in joint 10th.

If the weather is the same as it was that week then Montgomerie believes it could suit Westwood and enable him to end his long search for a major title.

In winds so strong that the large exhibition tent was ripped apart and debris scattered as far as the old Prince’s clubhouse almost a mile away, Whitcombe’s closing 78 was one of only seven sub-80 rounds.

Montgomerie played with Westwood and Donald in last week’s Scottish Open.

He was with world No 1 Donald as he opened with back-to-back 67s at Castle Stuart and then, while he was pulling away to a four-shot victory with a 63 that was his lowest round on the European Tour, he saw Westwood close with a 68 for joint 14th spot.

“Lee didn’t hole the putts that Luke did,” said Montgomerie. “Luke is extremely good – there are no weaknesses in his game at all. Lee does not putt as well, but he hits the ball further and he is stronger.

“I feel if the weather is inclement then he would be favoured, but if the weather’s nice I think Luke could well be favoured.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to putting. I’m not saying Lee is weak at it, I’m just saying that Luke is extremely good at it. It’s going to be interesting, but when you look at Luke’s game, Lee’s game and, of course, Rory’s game I can easily see them finishing first, second and third. But that could be in any order .”

Last year’s Ryder Cup captain said of McIlroy: “He is the most talented golfer we have right now – the most talented since Seve and that’s saying something. He’s naturally gifted, a God-given talent.”

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn has been called into the event on the course where he blew a three-shot lead with four holes to play in 2003. Bjorn was first reserve but was handed a place when Vijay Singh was forced to withdraw through injury.