Another tragic episode in Monty soap opera

Denis Pugh, his long-time coach and friend who has been trying to help get Montgomerie back into the world's top 10, knew that the cynics would probably have this picture of Monty moping around at home in Oxshott today feeling sorry for himself. Forget it, he said; the man would just return more determined than ever.

"He was really fed up, probably just wondering what he has to do in this event or whether he's jinxed. Yet Colin doesn't mope, he just gets on with it and fights back," Pugh told Standard Sport.

"He has an ability to withstand setbacks that would drag others down and is much more resilient than he sometimes appears.

"I know him better than those people who write him off. Look at it coldly, forget personal opinions. He played bloody well in Lytham and Muirfield in the last two Opens and clearly still has the game to win. Even now when he's in full flow he can reach a level that only Tiger (Woods) and Ernie (Els) know about.

"Golf has a great way of repaying its debts; in many ways, the majors owe him one. He's had four or five when he's been genuinely unlucky, and others when he's got himself into a good position only for others to play great. All the time he carries the knowledge that he's actually never blown a major. Psychologically, he's just as strong."

One defining triumph like this, reckoned Pugh, might tempt Monty to call it a day, though he knows his ambition is to bow out as captain, non-playing or otherwise, of Europe's Ryder Cup team in Dublin in 2006.

"Yet, actually, I think he can play for longer than three more years. He hasn't got one of those combustibletype swings which is going to burn him out or injure him and his bad back has been taken care of," said Pugh.

"I really do feel he'll get a major because he's such a dangerous man to write off. He's let himself down a bit in the US majors in recent years, but I rather fancy he still might win our Open. Perhaps he'll get it when everyone actually starts looking at him and says 'there goes yesterday's man'."

Some already are doing that. Yet Pugh is adamant that those who see Montgomerie's latest disappointment as being somehow representative of a spoilt character who simply lacks the 'bottle' for the very biggest events don't appreciate his steeliness and professionalism.

"When he gets criticism, he accepts it. Not always with good grace, but he accepts it," said Pugh. Occasionally because he's Monty, he blows up and when he does, he causes problems which he always immediately regrets. We're all human and he wears his heart on his sleeve but he's a great professional.

"He's an easy guy to work with because when he's away from the competition he's a charming guy. He's vice-president at Wisley and all the members there say 'he's a really nice guy' as if they were expecting to meet some child-eating demon."

Before going out yesterday, after Monty's injury had been iced, Pugh asked him whether he thought he could still win.

"He just gave a rueful smile which seemed to suggest no, but even if he knew it was hopeless, he wasn't going to ever say no because he is a fighter, whatever people think," explained Pugh

Pugh reckoned that Monty always looked to the example of Mark O'Meara, who's still going strong here at 46, having shot a very competitive 73 yesterday.

The veteran American had always looked to be destined to miss out on the glittering prizes too until he won both the Masters and The Open in 1998 when he was 41.

That's the same age that Montgomerie will be when he attempts to win on his beloved home Troon links next year. As long as he watches his step, what more inspiration could he have?