Colin Montgomerie spoke about his love of the area, and his desire to play at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.
“Every time I pass that Severn Bridge or the Prince of Wales Bridge and come to Celtic Manor Resort, on the M4, I am reminded of the wonderful memories of my time in Wales, and of the time we spent there in 2009 and 2010,” he said. “Every time I return, I enjoy it and I especially love coming to this course. This is an excellent golf course. It is a real test of character, and has lots of elevation.
“But it’s a good test. It’s a good all-round test and we look forward to the challenge.”
It is enough to say that Montgomerie didn’t have the same warm glow when he left his final round of golf on Sunday.
Montgomerie, who had been at par for the first two rounds, was battered on the course by the wind and rain at the weekend. The result was a disgraceful 76 on the Saturday, and then an even more appalling 88 on the Sunday.
The nine-time European Senior Tour champion made his turn at 46 during his final round. He did this after four bogeys on the ninth, two doubles, and a triple bogey.
He made his only birdie on the 10th, but went 7 over the next six holes, finishing at 42.
This round brought back memories of the 2008 PGA Championship in Oakland Hills, when he shot a 14-over 84 and then snapped at a journalist who laughed during one of his responses.
The Scotsman said, “Make it your last laugh.”
Montgomerie had shown renewed enthusiasm before the tournament, stating that he was as ambitious as ever.
Colin Montgomerie, 60 years old, says he’s “ambitious” as ever ahead of his tenth appearance in The Senior Open. He also praised the challenge presented by the host venue Royal Porthcawl #SeniorOpen
— DP World Tour July 27, 2020
The conditions were not just tough for the 60-year old, who had previously placed second in this event last year and ninth in 2014, when Darren Clarke took the win at Gleneagles.
Patrik Sjoland’s 89 was the highest score on the day, not Montgomerie. On Sunday, 26 players had scores of 80 and above. Some people who were not playing the game could only watch from afar. Justin Thomas, for example, posted on Facebook that he just couldn’t get enough of it.
It’s a perfect links golf day. It’s absolute carnage and it is hilarious to watch.
Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34 July 30 2023
