Open options dwindle for Montgomerie after setback

A week after missing out by five shots in US Open qualifying – and three days after posting his worst 36-hole total in Europe for 20 years at the Wales Open – Montgomerie was 11 strokes too many at Sunningdale, trooping in 18 shots adrift of eventual winner Graeme Storm.

An opening one-over-par 71 on the Old Course left the 47-year-old Scot knowing he needed “something like” his record-equalling 62 on the New course last year to be among the 10 to qualify.

But, in the end, he could manage only a five-over 74.

Other routes into what would be his 22nd consecutive Open at Sandwich next month are fast running out.

A top-five finish at either the French or Scottish Opens could do it and there are also two spots available through a mini-money list on the European Tour which continues at this week’s Italian Open.

Malton’s Simon Dyson must also rely on an alternative route to qualify, despite two decent rounds of 68. Harrogate’s John Parry also missed out after carding a total of 137 – four shots off the required target.

Storm finished three shots ahead of Wales Open champion Alex Noren and four clear of Scot Peter Whiteford, England’s Gary Boyd and 2002 Open runner-up Thomas Levet.

Kenneth Ferrie and Richard McEvoy qualified with Levet’s fellow Frenchman Gregory Bourdy and Spaniard Alejandro Canizares on seven under, while it was 9.35pm before South African George Coetzee won a play-off at the sixth extra hole to beat Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal.

Among others who missed out were former Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley and Nick Dougherty.

n Luke Donald’s 10th successive top-10 finish has guaranteed that he will go into the US Open next week as world No 1.

There will not be enough ranking points on offer when Lee Westwood defends his FedEx St Jude Classic title in Memphis this week for him to take the top spot back off Donald.

Donald followed his BMW PGA Championship play-off win over fellow Englishman Westwood with seventh place on Sunday in the Memorial tournament at Muirfield Village.

Steve Stricker held on to win the event in Dublin, Ohio, before admitting he had to grind out his 10th career victory.

The American had four up-and-down rounds but all of them were in the 60s as he held on to beat Matt Kuchar and Brandt Jobe by a stroke.

“It wasn’t pretty,” admitted Stricker. “It was a bit of a struggle after the rain delay and I was just trying not to make a mistake.”

Dustin Johnson was alone in fourth at 12 under, some four off the lead but one stroke ahead of Rory McIlroy, who was there or thereabouts all week without making a real push when it mattered.