Monty's misery at The Belfry

13 April 2012

When Colin Montgomerie returns to The Belfry for the Ryder Cup in September, there is no doubt which hole will be receiving special attention.

Monty finished third on eight under par in the Benson & Hedges International Open yesterday, two strokes behind winner Angel Cabrera.

But he played the par-four 10th in two over par - after taking a safety-first approach.

The hole, made famous by three previous Ryder Cup matches at the course, is only 311 yards, but for the last two rounds was reduced to 261 to bring the green within range.

Monty wasn't to be tempted, but it did him no good. He laid up with a nine-iron, then pitched not only over the lake, but also over the green. He then chipped into the water

and had to hole a nine-foot putt for a double bogey six.

He said: "In hindsight I should have gone for it the green every day. That was the tournament right there for me - that's where I lost it.

"Nine-iron off the tee. I should be able to make par doing that - but I didn't."

Of his third shot he said: "I had an awful stance and an awful lie - and I played an awful shot."

But how he played the other 17 holes in his final round of 69 has at least put Monty in good heart for Thursday and the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe in Heidelberg, which Tiger Woods defends.

Monty will also begin his new partnership there with Andy Prodger, the caddie fired by Ryder Cup team-mate Phillip Price on Saturday after he found Prodger was leaving.

Monty battled back from his double bogey and four birdies in the next eight holes put him joint leader standing on the final tee, but he bogeyed it after being distracted by a public address announcement.

He said: "Just as I was swinging on the tee I heard Nick Faldo's name on the tannoy. I'm delighted Nick was being celebrated coming on to the final green, but everybody was quiet around our tee and the noise carried."

Cabrera, the biggest hitter on the European Tour last season, cemented his maiden win in Europe with a birdie at 17 and par at the last. Former Ryder Cup star Barry Lane, 41, holed a 10-footer downhill to seal second just one behind.

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