Don't rule me out, says Montgomerie

A CONFIDENT Colin Montgomerie today put down his marker for this year's Open, .

The 38-year-old Surrey-based Scot has not given up hope of claiming his first major title on Sunday even though he accepts the odds are against him.

He said: "My Open record is pretty poor and I have slipped out of the world top 10 for the first time since May 1994.

"But I would not come here if I didn't think I could win. The day I don't think could win is the day that I stop coming."

Montgomerie's confidence was boosted by victory in the Irish Open last month his first on the European Tour in more than a year - and by his display in a solo practice round in bad weather yesterday.

He said: "I'm hitting the ball quite straight off the tee and that's a must here. If anything's off line, it will be bogey at best."

Montgomerie was delighted Tiger Woods yesterday claimed it was only a matter time before the Scot broke his major duck.

He said: "It was kind of Tiger to say that. I don't feel I'm running out of time.

I'm a better golfer than I was and much more experienced. But if I had a choice winning a major, this would be it."

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