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Colin Montgomerie takes hope from 2nd place
Colin Montgomerie still does not have that elusive major title on his CV.
But his career-best second placed finish in the British Open on Sunday behind Tiger Woods has encouraged the former seven-time European number one to believe he can be a force in the game again.
"This second place will get me nearer the world's top-25, which was my goal at the start of the year," said Montgomerie after shooting a level-par 72 to finish five strokes behind Woods.
"I've had three years in the wilderness after the way I played in the 90s but I'm about on course now after starting the year around 83rd in the world rankings.
"I'm totally encouraged by this. I'm not sure I can make it to number two in the world as I was in 1996 but I think I've got the talent to get back into the top 10."
The 42-year-old Scot reigned unchallenged in Europe between 1993-1999 but success has been hard to come by in the new millennium, especially in latter times when his life has been in turmoil as he went through a divorce.
His good results in the American majors have dried up completely but he now believes he will be able to contend better in the US and he is optimistic about the year's final major next month, the US PGA Championship."
Before this week his best British Open finish in 16 starts was a tie for eighth in 1994, his only other top-10 performance.
Sunday was his fourth runner-up placing at a major but his first since he placed second in the 1997 U.S. Open at Congressional.
"The last time I contended in America was in 1997 when I finished second to Ernie Els in the US Open," he said.
"With my life sorted out now I can look forward to restarting my career in the majors. I can start the next major full of confidence, knowing I could do well."
On his runner-up spot to Woods he said: "There is no disgrace in losing to the best player of our generation."
Montgomerie began Sunday three shots behind Woods and with high hopes of breaking his drought in the majors, but knew exactly where he challenge slipped away.
"I wanted a decent start and I got it with my two birdies. I'd got to the turn only one back of Tiger but I hit the wrong club on the 11th," he said, having been roared on by the partisan local fans.
"I hit a six-iron when it should have been a seven-iron, went over the back and didn't make my three. That stopped my momentum."
It was the third time in four rounds that Montgomerie dropped a shot on the 11th and came just after Woods carded his first bogey of the day on the 10th.
Woods recovered to par 11 and make birdie at 12 to re-establish a cushion which he never looked like losing.
"It was important to catch him and I didn't. He was always ahead," Montgomerie said.
"I knew I had to shoot a 66 and 15-under was my target, which would have won.
"The pins were set very difficult, though. It was nigh on impossible to get the ball close and the wind always made it difficult."
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