Monty confident of breaking major duck

Colin Montgomerie was two days away from his seventh birthday when Tony Jacklin left the rest for dead at the 1970 US Open championship.

When Montgomerie celebrates his 36th birthday next Wednesday he hopes he will also be sipping champagne as the first European winner of the title since Jacklin.

"It's a motivation for every British and every European golfer to try to emulate that feat," said the man who has been within touching distance of the trophy three times already.

"I think it's been too long, but I'm confident and the fellow that's going to win this week has to start confident. I don't think you're going to find your game here."

Having gone so close at Pebble Beach in 1992, then Oakmont in 1995 and Congressional two years ago - his record in those reads third, lost in a play-off, second - Montgomerie has now come to the Pinehurst number two course in North Carolina, designed at the start of the century by Scottish architect Donald Ross.

It did not escape Montgomerie's notice that he was listed in the championship draw as 'Colin Montgomerie, England.' The same applied to compatriot Sam Torrance and Welshman Phil Price.

"That's a good start," said Europe's number one. But it was said with a smile rather than a snarl and that could be a good sign from this gifted, but moody player.

His temperature did not rise either when he was asked if he thought American fans had warmed to him.

With problems from hecklers at the last two US Opens it was a reasonable question - security has been increased this year - but Montgomerie saw the implication that they had been cold towards him in the past.

"I don't feel that," he replied. "I've never really thought about how Americans view me. You've stumped me, but I really do think I get similar treatment to any other European or foreign player that comes over."

Montgomerie's main concern is how to play a course which is unlike any other US Open examination he has tackled.

He might have been expected to follow the Lee Westwood line of disappointment - that there is not the usual rough.

But although Montgomerie joked that he would like to see it not just back to five inches high, but five feet high, he still likes what he sees and believes he has the game for it.

"The set-up means there are more players capable of winning than normal, but I'll go out and attempt to hit the fairway at the first, then the middle of the green.

"And I'll try to do that for the next 71 holes as well."

World number one David Duval agrees with that approach and if either of them achieves their goal they will be a long way towards their first major.

"Anything around level par I'd take right now and run," added Montgomerie.

He knows that in the end he will have to putt well too, though. It is still etched on his mind that when he lost a play-off to Steve Elkington at the 1995 US PGA - his other near-miss - he had 17 more putts than the Australian.

The only player whose recent record gives him cause to be more confident than Montgomerie, twice a winner last month, is Tiger Woods.

The 23-year-old world number two has won his last two tournaments and, not yet having finished higher than 18th in three US Opens, simply loves the different challenge Pinehurst poses.

His preparation even includes time spent with sponsors Nike researching special golf shoes.

They are a combination of normal spikes and soft spikes and Woods explained: "They did a whole research on my swing and how the forces of my weight change, then built a shoe which stabilises my momentum.

"If it works with me at my speed I think it can work with most people. I think that's the idea."

The other main danger men to Montgomerie are the usual suspects - Duval, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Davis Love, Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal and Tom Lehman, who, in the last four US Opens, has finished third, second, third and fifth.

Westwood, after an injury and a dip in his fortunes lately, will hope to be inspired by playing with Woods in the first two rounds.

They were partners for three rounds last year and the 26-year-old, from Worksop, finished seventh and again went head-to-head in the final round of the Masters in April. Westwood had much the better of things once more, leading with nine to play and ending up sixth while Woods was 18th.

Ulsterman Darren Clarke's English Open victory a fortnight ago has convinced him he can be a contender and Nick Faldo, Sam Torrance and Peter Baker will be hoping they can be too.

Jacklin led every day in 1970, stretching his advantage every day until he finally triumphed by seven shots.

The players trying to emulate him will not care how they reach the finishing post as long as they reach it first.