COLIN MONTGOMERIE KNOWS Royal Troon better than anyone and he has tipped Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry to best handle the challenges of the links course.
The Irish pair go into this week’s Open coming off the back of contrasting performances at the US Open last month but Montgomerie believes both will be primed to challenge in Scotland.
“Rory was disappointing at Oakmont obviously,” the Sky Sports commentator said.
“He’d be disappointed with that performance definitely on a course that should have suited him. At the same time he’ll want to bounce back in a hurry. All these people winning Majors since his last one. He’ll bounce back I’m in no doubt about that.
“Troon’s greens are usually not the fastest or the sloppiest but they’re quite small so you’ve got to strike the ball properly and therefore enter Rory McIlroy because nobody strikes the ball better than he does.
“He’ll really be up for this at Troon.”
While Lowry failed to make the cut at the Scottish Open last week, the Offaly man goes into the third Major of the year full of confidence following his brush with glory at Oakmont.
He was unable to get over the line in the end but Mongtomerie says Lowry will take heart from that week and the disappointment will make him even more determined to get hold of the Claret Jug.
“Shane had a fantastic performance at Oakmont, my heart went out to him at the end.
“The putts that were going in the first three days just slipped out and missed and I’ve had that myself. I remember in 1994 when I lost that playoff at Oakmont, I bounced back pretty quickly in 1995 to get into a playoff at the USPGA and I suspect a similar thing is going to happen to Shane. He’s going to gain huge confidence from being there.
“He’s got to take that positives and confidence going forward. I really feel now that Shane has the confidence and the ability to do this and I think he’ll do well at Troon too because of his green work. He’s as good as anybody from 50 yards in, he’s got great feel and great hands.”
While Montgomerie will be in Sky Sports studio at Royal Troon for the broadcaster’s coverage of the Open, he will also have his own ambitions of winning.
The 53-year-old battled through 36 holes of qualifying to book his place in the field and play in his first Open in six years – on the course where it all began for him.
Thursday will be a particularly poignant round for the former European Ryder Cup captain as he tees it up at his home club a week before his father, James, becomes Troon’s president.
“We are both honourary members but my dad is associated even more closely with Troon than I could ever be,” he explained. “He becomes club president the week after the Open and he is so proud.
“My last Open was at St Andrews in 2010 and I really did think it would be my last. If it wasn’t at Troon this year I don’t think I would even have entered.
“Qualifying is incredibly difficult. You are up against 71 other players, most of them European Tour or Challenge Tour pros a lot younger than you.
“With only three spots to play for it becomes a bit of a lottery and 36 holes in a day is no picnic. But I’d have played 18 more if I’d had to.
“I also knew how proud it would make my father feel if I could play my way into the field. That is why when I qualified, there was that quiet moment of celebration, and a very real sense of ‘this one’s for you’.
“My father was so excited when I told him. I’d asked him to stay away from qualifying because I was nervous enough as it was — but he’ll be there when I tee off at Troon.”
To celebrate Sky Sports’ coverage of the Open, existing customers can upgrade today and enjoy half price Sky Sports for 6 months by simply going to channel 402 and pressing the red button or visit www.sky.ie/sports
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
