The Open Championship 1998

Reuters

Southport, England, 17th July 1998 - Colin Montgomerie's abysmal Open Champiionship record continued at Royal Birkdale on Friday when he missed the halfway cut for the fifth time in seven years.

In contrast, Nick Faldo maintained his perfect Open record by making the final 36 holes for the 23rd consecutive time. He has never failed to beat the cut.

World number five Montgomerie, winner of the Volvo PGA earlier this year but still to win a major, carded a four-over-par 74 despite an eagle-birdie finish.

He missed the cut by one shot.

Montgomerie blamed a hook for his problems on Thursday when he shot 73. On Friday the fault lay with his putting.

"I had four three-putts and 37 in all. Yesterday I had 33. That's about 10 too many," he said.

"It was nice to have a three-three finish but I was still one shot too many."

Montgomerie suffered on Royal Birkdale's tough opening stretch, dropping four shots on the first six holes.

"I did not have too many problems tee to green, I just did not hole anything," said the 35-year-old Scot, whose best Open Championship finish was eighth at Turnberry in 1994.