Monty Sets Wrong Record in Wales

Colin Montgomerie has another memory of Celtic Manor to add to last year's Ryder Cup – his worst 36-hole score on European soil for more than 20 years.

On a day when Sweden's Alex Noren took over the lead in the Wales Open with a second successive 67 and has the defending champion, Graeme McDowell, only one behind, Europe's triumphant captain last October slumped out of the event at 15 over par. Montgomerie followed his opening 78 with a 79 and had no doubt what the biggest problem was – his age.

"I'm not 25 any more," said the Scot, who turns 48 in less than three weeks turns 48. "I think it does show sometimes. It's good being busy but it takes its toll trying to compete against guys less than half my age only doing this.

"Playing well last week [his seventh place at Wentworth was his first top 10 for almost three years] I thought I could perform well again. But I just played awful. I'm very disappointed not to be playing at the weekend, never mind contending. I'm one of the last names on the board."

The last time Montgomerie had two higher opening scores in Europe was the 1991 Benson and Hedges International at St Mellion. He shot 80-81 there.

Montgomerie failed to make it through a 36-hole US Open qualifying event on Monday and faces the same thing at Sunningdale this coming Monday to try to earn a place in next month's Open.

"It's become very important. I've not had a year where I've not competed in a major before [not since 1989 at least] – I've played in The Open 21 years in a row and I want to keep that record going."

If he is not part of the Sandwich action next month, it could be that the man with five runners-up finishes – three US Opens, one Open and one US PGA – will never play another major.

Noren is looking forward to his US Open debut, his first major in America, in two weeks after making it through with a stroke to spare at Walton Heath.

The 28-year-old from Stockholm won the European Masters two years ago but dropped from 25th to 85th on the money list last season and from a high of 50th in the world he now stands 127th. "I've always dreamed of playing a US Open and I'm so happy – so happy," Noren said. "It's He birdied four of the last five holes to take over at the top from South Africa's Keith Horne, who after starting with a 64 failed to conjure up a single birdie in his 73.

McDowell also had four birdies in five holes, in his case from the eighth, and just as important was his recovery from under the lip of a bunker to two feet at the short 10th.

"One of the boys said Seve would have been proud of that one," he said. "I'm on a course I enjoy and in a position I enjoy.

"This is absolutely perfect for the US Open (he defends there as well in a fortnight). I said I just wanted to get in the mix and get the juices flowing and it's kind of mission accomplished."

Shot of the Day - Padraig Harrington

Padraig Harrington of Ireland plays the innaugural shots opening the Sarazen Bunker at Prince's Golf Club on June 1, 2011 in Sandwich, England. The new bunker is located near the ninth green and is named in honour of Gene Sarazen of the United States who won the British Open in 1932 at the same venue.

Harrington No World Ranking Concerns

Padraig Harrington insists he is feeling positive about his game despite being poised to drop outside the world's top-50 for the first time in over a decade.

Since winning his third and final major crown to date at the USPGA Championship in 2008, the Dubliner has struggled to hit similar heights again.

"I'm not panicking about dropping out of the top 50 and it's not in itself a big issue - there's a big summer ahead and I'm very happy with my game, what I'm doing and where I'm at. " 

Although he emerged triumphant at the Irish PGA Championship in 2009 and the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia last year, further big titles have eluded the 39-year-old with his ranking now reflecting that drought.

Harrington is currently on the sidelines recovering from a knee injury, but is scheduled to return to action at the St Jude Classic in Memphis next week just ahead of the US Open.

He is far from despondent about his fall in the rankings and believes his game is actually in good shape with the busiest part on the season now on the horizon.

"It's not through lack of trying and I feel my game's in great shape," he stated. "I think I'm in a position to go forward.

"I'm not panicking about dropping out of the top 50 and it's not in itself a big issue - there's a big summer ahead and I'm very happy with my game, what I'm doing and where I'm at.

"I'm doing the right things that will lead to results."

Patience

With his two Open wins and USPGA victory ensuring he does not have to worry about his place at the majors, Harrington is confident he can soon be challenging for the games biggest prizes again.

Indeed, a recent conversation with rugby union star and compatriot Brian O'Driscoll has convinced him that patience is the key to further success.

"Three years ago they were writing that he (O'Driscoll) would have to leave Ireland because he'd won no trophies and it was time for a change," Harrington added.

"Now he's falling over himself for trophies. Professional golf is the same - you go through periods where no matter how hard you try to win you just don't.

"And you go through periods where you can't do anything wrong. It's a tough game and you just have to be patient."

Donald Becomes New World Number 1

The new world number one Luke Donald banished the memories of his late collapse in the 2010 PGA Championship when he won the European Tour’s flagship event for the first time yesterday.

“I lost it by making a double-bogey seven at the 17th last year and losing by one (to fellow Briton) Simon Khan was very disappointing,” Donald said after beating Lee Westwood with a birdie four at the first hole of their Wentworth play-off.

“It was tough to take. Second place is no fun and I am sure Lee is feeling that right now. You feel so close yet so far away.

“Those bad memories from last year are replaced from the good ones I have from today,” said the 33-year-old.

Donald paid tribute to Westwood after knocking his fellow Englishman off the top of the rankings.

“He is a hell of a player and he doesn’t back down,” said Donald. “He was a deserved number one and I knew it would be tough in the play-off.

“I felt a little bit bad for Lee there. He hit a decent shot at the 18th in the play-off, it just had a little bit too much spin on the green and went back into the water.”

Donald said it was already feeling strange to be described as the world number one.

“It’s a little surreal,” he explained. “It’s hard to believe, in a certain way.

“But obviously it’s a special accomplishment and something I will remember forever.

“It’s something that will be a great story when I’m an old man telling my grandkids I was once the best player in the world at golf,” Donald added.

“You keep telling yourself you have the ability and the talent but you never quite really know. Whether it will change me, I don’t think so.

“It doesn’t mean I’m done now. I’ve still got a lot of work to do, hopefully a lot more titles to pick up and I can keep going from strength to strength,” said Donald.

Els Believes West Course Rewards Risk

Ernie Els came in for some fierce criticism 12 months ago after he and billionaire club owner Richard Caring toughened up the West Course, including the introduction of a stream in front of the famous final hole.

The idea was to make it more risk-reward, but for the vast majority there was too much risk and not enough reward.

Simon Khan won the title after Luke Donald, needing an eagle to tie after taking seven on the long 17th, still laid up short of the water and had to try to pitch in.

He almost made it, but now the target has been made more enticing with a bigger and lower green.

'I guess you could say it's taken two bites of the cherry to get it exactly as we wanted, but this ultimately is the best solution for this iconic finishing hole,' said Els on his website.

'It's a fair balance of risk and reward and that small extra margin for error definitely makes a difference to a player's shot selection.

'I believe more guys will take it on in two at this year's championship. I hope so anyway. It may help produce an exciting climax, which is what a tournament of this stature deserves.

'Updating a classic golf course, one of the most famous in the world in the case of Wentworth, is an honour and at the same time a huge responsibility.

'We're proud of what we have achieved and we feel it has firmly established the course as one of the game's finest inland lay-outs.

'After last year's championship a decision was taken to make a couple more minor adjustments - to the eighth green where we've softened the spine running through the centre of the green and primarily on the 18th, where we lowered the green by 50 centimetres and made the putting surface bigger by 25%.

'We also carried out subtle recontouring to the green complex, making it somewhat more inviting for second shots.'

Els may not have taken the PGA title, but he won a record seven World Match Plays on the course.

'Every year this is one of my personal favourite stops in my playing schedule,' he added.

'You could call this part of the world pretty much home turf for me, having had a house here on the Wentworth estate for more than 10 years.

'I know the ins and outs and twists and turns of this golf course probably as well as any other course in the world.

'And this is a wonderful tournament - one that I believe can hold its own in the very highest company.

'Everything about it is pure class - the golf course, the field, the way the tournament is run and the way the players are looked after.

'Also the British golf fans are among the best in the world. This year's tournament is that bit more special, as it is the first time all four current major champions are competing in the field.

'Two of them are South African (Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel), both fine young men and good friends of mine, which is a great showcase for our nation's golfing talent and I know a real inspiration to many young kids back home.

'So, it should be a great week for the players, the fans and for the European Tour in general.'

BMW PGA Championship leader board - LIVE SCORING