Montgomerie hoping improved fitness will improve game

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie branded himself a failure here on Wednesday as he prepares to try and win the PGA championship - the last major of the year.

Montgomerie admitted that Tiger Woods had to be firm favorite to lift the trophy on Sunday.

"He is the guy with the confidence. He is the best player in the world by a long way, and we have got to raise out standards to join his. We are all trying. We are all failing, but we are all trying," said a new slimmed down Montgomerie.

The still-burly Scott said he had lost 11 pounds since the British Open.

"I just woke up one morning after the Open and thought, ' Well look, if you don't have to be something in life don't be it.' And I was overweight. I don't want to be overweight anymore, and I decided to get on a strict diet and a fitness regime," he explained.

He said the weight loss will make him play better.

"When I lose weight my self esteem rises, and there is no point in doing one's job in public if you don't have good self-esteem out there and I hadn't had that for a couple of years. You tend to walk a little bit taller, and it might just save me half a shot or a shot towards the end of the week," said Montgomerie.

The seven-time European leading money winner has also changed his preparation for his bid to break his duck in Majors.

He spent Monday at home with his family near London before flying in here late Tuesday night.

"I have found that in the past I've left most of my good shots on the golf course in practice, and when it comes to Thursday it may not be there. I felt that the heat conditions of this area at this time of year one practice round would be enough. I am ready to go now, and another night's sleep and another practice round would have possibly hindered me," said Montgomerie.

"I have never won one of these majors so I am trying everything new to try and do it," he said.

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