Montgomerie: Not a contender?
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Colin Montgomerie believes that, with little expected of him to deliver a result at Royal Birkdale, he can in fact challenge for Open glory.
After an inconsistent season, the Scot is relieved that no-one is playing up his chances and heads into the weekend a 100-1 shot to win his first major.
The eight-times European Order of Merit winner said: "Before, in the 90s, when I was number one in Europe, it was expected I did very well and competed and contended and was due to win a couple.
"Now it's slightly different. My consistency is not as good as it once was so I'm going in here free, almost, without any form of expectation.
"I think when you are expected to do something it's quite difficult to achieve."
The 45-year-old therefore does not mind the fact that he is largely being written off.
"It's great because I haven't myself," he continued. "I don't care really what they feel about Monty, that he's not a contender.
"If I can hole out from six, seven, eight foot consistently, the way I used to, I can contend here. That's all I need to do, contend coming into Sunday afternoon, then I have a chance."
Top 10 push
However, Montgomerie also said that he would settle for a performance good enough to take him into top 10 in Europe's Ryder Cup table and guaranteed entry to the team.
"I have won this European thing eight times but, if you look back at my career, the Ryder Cup would be first on people's lips," added Montgomerie, who sits 13th after missing the cut at the Barclays Scottish Open.
"Put it this way, if I do well enough here to get into the Ryder Cup, I would take it right now."
