Latest news with #ColinMontgomerie
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Els launches new Portuguese golf club alongside Montgomerie and Duval
By Phil Campbell Ernie Els was delighted to see his new Portuguese golf club launched in style alongside two all-time greats of the game and an array of sporting royalty. The four-time major champion played a nine-hole exhibition to open the Els Club Vilamoura with Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. Els Club Vilamoura, is a championship-standard 18-hole golf course, designed by Els, that features a luxury clubhouse and signature amenities such as the 261 Bar, and was built on the previous Victoria course, which hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022. Els, who won the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and two Open crowns in 2002 and 2012, invited Montgomerie and Duval to play the course, as well as Portuguese Champions League winner Luis Figo and former England striker Peter Crouch. Els said of his new club: 'I've been coming to Vilamoura for many years, I've spent many summers with my family here and we just love Portugal. 'Golf is in a pretty sweet spot at the moment and [creating this course] has been a really nice venture. 'We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and for people to have a great experience and good food.' Els Club, Vilamoura has been built in partnership with English investment fund Arrow Global and management company DETAILS and is the first private-members club in the Algarve. Membership is extended only to those proposed by founder members or those invited by the club. During a press conference on the morning of the Els Club launch, it was also announced the course would host the new PGA Champions Tour event, the Portugal Invitational after signing a five-year deal. The first edition of the event is set to be held between 31 July to 2 August 2026 and has been brought about through the work of The PGA Tour Champions, Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve. A field of 78 players will be welcomed to the new track with the likes of Bernhard Langer and Miguel Ángel Jimenez set to compete at the event that boasts a whopping prize purse of £2.23million ($3m). PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady said: 'This Tour is a global showcase of the game's legendary players, and we know the great golf fans in Portugal and throughout Europe will welcome the opportunity to watch them compete in person at The Els Club Vilamoura.' Els added: 'It's wonderful to see those plans now coming to fruition and we're grateful to PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady, the team at Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve, for sharing in our vision and bringing this exciting new tournament here.' Vilamoura is just a 25-minute drive from Faro airport, which boasts connections to 90 airports worldwide, and is also just a two-hour drive from Lisbon. The resort is rich in culture, gastronomy and outdoor activities and is home to its famous marina which is a multiple winner of the Yacht Harbour Association's Best International Marina award. Montgomerie said: 'The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It's not just a course for the present; it's a course for the future as well,' while Duval added: 'It'll be much anticipated for everybody on the Champions Tour, and I struggle to see how it won't be a huge success a year from now.'
Scotsman
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Why hopes are high of Scottish success in Senior Open at Sunningdale
Seven-strong Caledonian contingent includes two rookies who have made promising starts in over-50s' ranks Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Whisper it but could this week be Scotland's best chance of producing a winner of the ISPS Handa Senior Open for close to 30 years? Not since Brian Barnes recorded back-to-back victories in 1995 and 1996 has a player flying the Saltire picked up the over-50s' Claret Jug. Barnes, in fact, is the only Scot to have won the event, which was first held in 1987, but the 'Class of 2025' definitely has potential. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Colin Montgomerie is making his 12th appearance in the ISPS HANDA Senior Open this week |By his own admission, Colin Montgomerie is finding it more and more difficult to stay competitive in the senior ranks and landing the title at the 12th attempt and having turned 63 last month would be one of his greatest achievements. The eight-time European No 1 and Ryder Cup legend is still as competitive as ever, though, and a home gig at Sunningdale is making him excited about this week's assignment. 'It's very rare that it comes around that you're playing at home but it's just a lovely place to be,' said Montgomerie, who has his son Cameron, a scratch player, caddying for him at the Berkshire venue. 'I think it's a course that suits me more than some. It's not the longest course, par 70 is quite strict, mind you. It's a tough 70 with only two par 5s, but at the same time, got to hit the fairways. And that's what I do; the best I've done in my career is hit fairways. So if I can do that, we can score. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You never know. If a couple of putts go in we can get into some sort of contention, not just competing in the tournament but actually into contention. So we look forward to it.' Seven years younger than his compatriot, Paul Lawrie could also easily be a contender, having shown what he's still capable of when carding a 62 in a Legends Tour event in Greece earlier in the year. The Aberdonian would have been bitterly disappointed that he was unable to convert that winning opportunity, but he'll be driven in this event, of course, by a chance to join a select group of players to have won both The Open and Senior Open. For both Stephen Gallacher and David Drysdale, this week marks Senior Open debuts for both and don't be surprised if either of them - even both - get in the major mix. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This week's Senior Open has ISPS HANDA as the title sponsor for the first time |Former Ryder Cup player Gallacher has already produced two promising performances in big events, having tied for 28th in the Senior PGA Championship then finishing joint-18th in the US Senior Open. Drysdale, meanwhile, has hit the ground running on the Legends Tour since turning 50 in March, finishing second and third in his first few events. 'Yeah, it's been good,' said the Cockburnspath man of how he's started the new chapter in his career. I lost my card in Europe at the end of 2022 and always wanted to have a couple of years out here and Asia was my option to try and keep my game going for a couple of years. 'That was my plan and it worked out well. I enjoyed Asia and hoping to get in a couple of events out there later in the year, but I am looking forward to this one. Sunningdale - what a great spot for my first Senior Open. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I've got through Open Final Qualifying here and also lost in a play-off in Open Qualifying here. I played in that six years in a row, I'd imagine. My game has been decent this season, so looking for more of the same.' Also flying the Saltire at Sunningdale, where Korea's K.J. Choi defends the title after his impressive victory at Carnoustie 12 months ago, are former BMW PGA Championship winner Scott Drummond, Greig Hutcheon and Euan McIntosh. Hucheon will be aiming to reproduce the level of golf that enabled him to get into contention heading into the final round at Royal Porthcawl two years ago.
National Post
18-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Colin Montgomerie weighs in on Scheffler's rant, Rory's motivation and LIV Golf
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Sitting comfortably in the Loch Lomond Whiskies tent at Royal Portrush, Colin Montgomerie explained how in this recent period away from playing the game of golf, he enjoys working around the house. Article content 'I do my yard, my backyard, as you would call it. Garden,' he said. 'I like cutting the grass, it's quite therapeutic.' Article content Article content His wife Sarah Taylor, who used to manage the golfer, sat on a nearby couch with an expression that clearly questioned her husband's stated passion for yardwork. Article content Article content More on Monty's time away from golf shortly. With so much going on in the sport, there was plenty to ask the eight-time European Order of Merit winner. Article content During his illustrious playing career around the world, Montgomerie didn't always come across as the most satisfied golfer. Considering that, the 62-year-old Scotsman seemed perfect to discuss Scottie Scheffler's comments ahead of this week's Open Championship, where the world's best golfer said he finds professional sports to be an unfulfilling life, and that he sometimes questions the point of it all. Article content Montgomerie wasn't completely surprised. Article content 'Once you've reached a certain height in anything there is only one place to go, and unfortunately it's down,' Montgomerie told the Toronto Sun in a wide-ranging interview. 'You can't stay there forever. I can understand to an extent what he was trying to say.' Article content 'Like, 'Where do I go from here, I've almost done it all already,' I mean 16 wins in four years including three majors? That's incredible. So, where do you go apart from down? It was very honest. Normally nowadays, they get into these press conferences and say nothing. At least he was honest and said how he feels. He's putting his family first which is great, and good luck to him.' Article content Article content After considering the spot Scheffler finds himself in this week at Royal Portrush, right back in the hunt, Montgomerie floated an alternative theory. Article content 'Is this a way of taking the pressure off possibly?' he asked of Scheffler's speech. 'Is this a way of saying, 'I don't really care.' You never know, but it's working.' Article content Noticing Brian Harman's name atop the leaderboard on the television on the wall, and imagining the groans from these fans at the thought of the American with a passion for hunting winning their cherished Jug yet again, we talked about the diminutive left-hander. And whether it's fair to have a crowd against you in a sport such as golf, something Monty has had some experience with. Article content 'He's obviously become a bit of a links expert suddenly from really nowhere,' he said of Harman. 'I'll tell you what he does do, he putts helluva well. But I think if you're not Rory McIlroy here, you feel everyone is against you as a player. It's an odd sort of thing.' Article content 'Because we are in Northern Ireland, it's harder for the English, Scottish or Welsh to get here so you get a really local audience. And Rory's a god here. This Loch Lomond Whiskeys tent is fairly empty right now, but at three o'clock when he's finished, it sure won't be. They will all be coming in after Rory's done.' Article content As with every discussion in Portrush this week, the conversation had made it's way to McIlroy. It's hard not to wonder what the Northern Irish superstar thought of Scheffler's remarks. After all, Rory been going through a motivational problem of his own since accomplishing his childhood dream of winning the career grand slam in April at the Masters. Article content 'It was Rory's ultimate dream to get the four, and he spent 40 majors trying to finish it,' Montgomerie said. 'And everyone was saying now the flood gates will open once he's done this, and he'll win everything. Hang on.' Article content 'One, it's not that easy. Two, I think what happened to him over the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open was he thought, 'God, hang on a minute. Do I have to keep doing this? Do I have to keep all this up?' I think this was a good one for him at Portrush, a great place to try to get back on the rails again.' Article content As for how Rory must have felt standing on the first tee at Portrush on Thursday, six years after hitting his tee shot out of bounds in front of a country of worshippers? Article content 'Very strange feeling,' he said. 'He made a complete hash of it six years ago. Doesn't matter who you are, he was thinking about it. There's no question it was in his head. That iron he hit wasn't flying in the air very much.' Article content It's been nearly a year since reports came out that Montgomerie was having health issues and would be stepping away from the Champions Tour for a time. Article content 'I haven't been very well, I've had a bad year health-wise. So what do I do when I'm not golfing? Well, three children and two grandchildren now, that's good. The grandchildren are becoming people now, they're not babies anymore they are children. I just love being at home. After 40 years of travel, where do you want to be? Sleeping in my own bed, to be honest.' Article content Monty and Sarah live in Sunningdale, England, where the golfer keeps a close eye on the game he loves. His favourite current player is Ludvig Aberg from Sweden. Article content Article content 'I like him. He gets on with,' Montgomerie said. 'He's European, but fine. I like the attitude I like the way he swings the club, he's a modern player. He makes a few too many mistakes at the moment, but his good is as good as anyone's.' Article content His attention to the game is yet to extend to LIV Goif, where a number of his former rivals are presently plying their trade. Article content 'Not that I'm not interested, I just can't find it, it's not readily available,' he said if LIV, 'These people have disappeared off the screen. I mean: Henrik Stenson, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, the guys I used to play with. Lee Westwood? I have no idea how they've finished or what they're doing or whatever. It's crazy and a shame. Article content 'It's very important the game comes back together. If this Saudi Arabian fund is what they say it is and they want to support golf, well let's bring it back together and use that money in a more positive way. What I'm trying to say is give opportunity to others and not just the wealthy get wealthier, let's use it for grassroots golf in places like India and China and Indonesia, wherever. The world's great populations. The sooner we come back together the better for everybody.' Article content Article content Apart from having trouble finding LIV broadcasts, like many fans, Montgomerie seems to struggle with the questionable competitive spirit on LIV. Article content 'When I think of LIV, I think what's the point? I mean, why? This is something here to be champion golfer of the year, it's something. It's tradition,' he said. Article content One thing many of the topics we had covered had in common was money, and how it's changed golf and possibly changed an athlete's motivation in all professional sports. Fulfillment and job satisfaction were much less of a topic in the past when generational wealth wasn't a reality for every player. Article content 'We earned a lot of money but it wasn't retirement money in a year. What's happened now is that Scottie Scheffler is earning $50-60 million in a year and that's retirement money. After one good year you are set,' he said. Article content 'The 90s was my era. What was I doing it for? I had three children born in that time and the lifestyle was improving and I wanted to continue to improve it for the family. So I guess, yes, it was for the money. But now all these guys are making a lot more money than we ever made. Everything has changed in sports.' Article content Montgomerie said he doesn't blame players for leaving for LIV, although he thinks it's a bit more of a peculiar choice for young players trying to make their way in the game. Article content 'But the Westwoods, Poulters and McDowells were plateauing at best and I can't blame them at all,' he said. 'If someone had come to myself it would have been a very difficult decision. Loyalty is one thing but the mighty dollar is another. It's life-changing money.' Article content
Toronto Sun
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Colin Montgomerie weighs in on Scheffler's rant, Rory's motivation and LIV Golf
During his illustrious playing career, Monty didn't always come across as the most satisfied golfer. Considering that, the 62-year-old Scotsman seemed perfect to discuss Scottie Scheffler's comments. Get the latest from Jon McCarthy straight to your inbox Golf legend Colin Montgomerie talked to the Toronto Sun on a host of subjects. Photo by Handout / Loch Lomond Whiskies PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Sitting comfortably in the Loch Lomond Whiskies tent at Royal Portrush, Colin Montgomerie explained how in this recent period away from playing the game of golf, he enjoys working around the house. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'I do my yard, my backyard, as you would call it. Garden,' he said. 'I like cutting the grass, it's quite therapeutic.' His wife Sarah Taylor, who used to manage the golfer, sat on a nearby couch with an expression that clearly questioned her husband's stated passion for yardwork. More on Monty's time away from golf shortly. With so much going on in the sport, there was plenty to ask the eight-time European Order of Merit winner. During his illustrious playing career around the world, Montgomerie didn't always come across as the most satisfied golfer. Considering that, the 62-year-old Scotsman seemed perfect to discuss Scottie Scheffler's comments ahead of this week's Open Championship, where the world's best golfer said he finds professional sports to be an unfulfilling life, and that he sometimes questions the point of it all. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Montgomerie wasn't completely surprised. 'Once you've reached a certain height in anything there is only one place to go, and unfortunately it's down,' Montgomerie told the Toronto Sun in a wide-ranging interview. 'You can't stay there forever. I can understand to an extent what he was trying to say.' 'Like, 'Where do I go from here, I've almost done it all already,' I mean 16 wins in four years including three majors? That's incredible. So, where do you go apart from down? It was very honest. Normally nowadays, they get into these press conferences and say nothing. At least he was honest and said how he feels. He's putting his family first which is great, and good luck to him.' After considering the spot Scheffler finds himself in this week at Royal Portrush, right back in the hunt, Montgomerie floated an alternative theory. Jon McCarthy has something for every golfer, with a notably Canadian slant. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Is this a way of taking the pressure off possibly?' he asked of Scheffler's speech. 'Is this a way of saying, 'I don't really care.' You never know, but it's working.' Noticing Brian Harman's name atop the leaderboard on the television on the wall, and imagining the groans from these fans at the thought of the American with a passion for hunting winning their cherished Jug yet again, we talked about the diminutive left-hander. And whether it's fair to have a crowd against you in a sport such as golf, something Monty has had some experience with. 'He's obviously become a bit of a links expert suddenly from really nowhere,' he said of Harman. 'I'll tell you what he does do, he putts helluva well. But I think if you're not Rory McIlroy here, you feel everyone is against you as a player. It's an odd sort of thing.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Because we are in Northern Ireland, it's harder for the English, Scottish or Welsh to get here so you get a really local audience. And Rory's a god here. This Loch Lomond Whiskeys tent is fairly empty right now, but at three o'clock when he's finished, it sure won't be. They will all be coming in after Rory's done.' As with every discussion in Portrush this week, the conversation had made it's way to McIlroy. It's hard not to wonder what the Northern Irish superstar thought of Scheffler's remarks. After all, Rory been going through a motivational problem of his own since accomplishing his childhood dream of winning the career grand slam in April at the Masters. 'It was Rory's ultimate dream to get the four, and he spent 40 majors trying to finish it,' Montgomerie said. 'And everyone was saying now the flood gates will open once he's done this, and he'll win everything. Hang on.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'One, it's not that easy. Two, I think what happened to him over the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open was he thought, 'God, hang on a minute. Do I have to keep doing this? Do I have to keep all this up?' I think this was a good one for him at Portrush, a great place to try to get back on the rails again.' As for how Rory must have felt standing on the first tee at Portrush on Thursday, six years after hitting his tee shot out of bounds in front of a country of worshippers? 'Very strange feeling,' he said. 'He made a complete hash of it six years ago. Doesn't matter who you are, he was thinking about it. There's no question it was in his head. That iron he hit wasn't flying in the air very much.' It's been nearly a year since reports came out that Montgomerie was having health issues and would be stepping away from the Champions Tour for a time. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I haven't been very well, I've had a bad year health-wise. So what do I do when I'm not golfing? Well, three children and two grandchildren now, that's good. The grandchildren are becoming people now, they're not babies anymore they are children. I just love being at home. After 40 years of travel, where do you want to be? Sleeping in my own bed, to be honest.' Monty and Sarah live in Sunningdale, England, where the golfer keeps a close eye on the game he loves. His favourite current player is Ludvig Aberg from Sweden. 'I like him. He gets on with,' Montgomerie said. 'He's European, but fine. I like the attitude I like the way he swings the club, he's a modern player. He makes a few too many mistakes at the moment, but his good is as good as anyone's.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. His attention to the game is yet to extend to LIV Goif, where a number of his former rivals are presently plying their trade. 'Not that I'm not interested, I just can't find it, it's not readily available,' he said if LIV, 'These people have disappeared off the screen. I mean: Henrik Stenson, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, the guys I used to play with. Lee Westwood? I have no idea how they've finished or what they're doing or whatever. It's crazy and a shame. 'It's very important the game comes back together. If this Saudi Arabian fund is what they say it is and they want to support golf, well let's bring it back together and use that money in a more positive way. What I'm trying to say is give opportunity to others and not just the wealthy get wealthier, let's use it for grassroots golf in places like India and China and Indonesia, wherever. The world's great populations. The sooner we come back together the better for everybody.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Colin Montgomerie is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Handout/Loch Lomond Whiskies Apart from having trouble finding LIV broadcasts, like many fans, Montgomerie seems to struggle with the questionable competitive spirit on LIV. 'When I think of LIV, I think what's the point? I mean, why? This is something here to be champion golfer of the year, it's something. It's tradition,' he said. One thing many of the topics we had covered had in common was money, and how it's changed golf and possibly changed an athlete's motivation in all professional sports. Fulfillment and job satisfaction were much less of a topic in the past when generational wealth wasn't a reality for every player. 'We earned a lot of money but it wasn't retirement money in a year. What's happened now is that Scottie Scheffler is earning $50-60 million in a year and that's retirement money. After one good year you are set,' he said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The 90s was my era. What was I doing it for? I had three children born in that time and the lifestyle was improving and I wanted to continue to improve it for the family. So I guess, yes, it was for the money. But now all these guys are making a lot more money than we ever made. Everything has changed in sports.' Montgomerie said he doesn't blame players for leaving for LIV, although he thinks it's a bit more of a peculiar choice for young players trying to make their way in the game. 'But the Westwoods, Poulters and McDowells were plateauing at best and I can't blame them at all,' he said. 'If someone had come to myself it would have been a very difficult decision. Loyalty is one thing but the mighty dollar is another. It's life-changing money.' As a golfer who has played all over the world, we closed by asking him, if he had just one round of golf left, where would he play it? 'I'd play at my home course at Sunningdale in England,' he said. 'It's a fabulous walk whether you're playing golf, or walking your dogs and forgetting about the golf.' Celebrity MMA Tennis Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
The Open 2025: Colin Montgomerie and the 8 best players to never win the Claret Jug
The Claret Jug has eluded plenty of golf's biggest names, including UK favourite Colin Montgomerie, a pair of Masters champions and a five-time major winner with 52 PGA tour triumphs to his name Lifting the Claret Jug is one of golf's most sought-after feelings and now the sport's elite will try again at Royal Portrush in the 153rd Open Championship. But, even for the sport's biggest stars, it is a feat which remains easier said than done. Down the years, winning The Open has eluded a plethora of big names. Some have fallen just short by the skin of their teeth - others have barely had a sniff. Here are some of the best who never got their hands on the famous trophy… Colin Montgomerie A veteran of 22 Opens who carried the weight of his nation on his shoulders at each of them, Monty's best shot came in 2005 at St Andrews. A stunning six-under-par 66 on day two saw him shoot up the leaderboard and he played with Tiger Woods in his third round, a birdie on 18 sparking huge Scottish cheers as he concluded a round of 70. He began the final day in the penultimate group but though he pulled to within a shot of Woods at one stage, the American pulled clear and closed out his second Open victory at the same venue as his first five years previously. Montgomerie later reflected: "I'll never forget The Open Championship of 2005. I'll take that to my dying day. I loved the support and I thank them to this day for trying to get me over the line." Vijay Singh A player unlucky to be at his peak at the same time as the likes of Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, Singh went toe-to-toe with some of the game's greatest-ever players and won three majors. He recorded four top-10 finishes at The Open, coming closest to landing the ultimate prize at Royal St George's in 2003. The Fijian finished second on that occasion, a shot behind Ben Curtis, and went on to finish in a share of fifth at St Andrews in 2005 and tied for ninth at Royal Lytham & St Annes eight years later – aged 49. His most recent Open appearance came in 2016, when his errant tee shot at the seventh struck caddie William Ciplinski on the head and landed him with a night in hospital. Ian Woosnam A Masters champion in 1991, Woosnam already had four top-10 Open finishes to his name when he arrived at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2001. The most recent of those was nine years previously, however, and the form that had made him such a force in the early '90s appeared to be deserting him. But he rolled back the years on Merseyside and a birdie at the first in his final round left him bang in contention in a share of the lead at seven-under – only for disaster to strike. The Welshman's caddie, Miles Byrne, informed Woosnam he had 15 clubs in his bag – one more than is permitted. A two-shot penalty was the result and he ended up finishing four shots behind David Duval. Woosnam insisted he would not part ways with 'good lad' Byrne – but did just that two weeks later when the caddie failed to show up on time after a night out. Sergio Garcia Another to have won the Masters but not The Open, Garcia came close on several occasions – not least in 2007. The Spaniard had a 10-foot putt for par and the title on the 18th at Carnoustie but it lipped out and forced him into a play-off with Padraig Harrington. Garcia paid for a bogey in the first of the four play-off holes, with a birdie putt on the final hole staying just to the left of the cup and allowing Harrington to tap home his short putt and become the first Irish winner of The Open for 60 years. He also finished runner-up to a man from the Emerald Isle in 2014, pulling to within two shots of runaway leader Rory McIlroy at one stage before the recently-crowned Masters winner regained his composure to land the Claret Jug. Garcia has missed out on making it to the last two Opens, losing his cool with rules officials after receiving a slow play warning at Final Qualifying last year. Lee Westwood Among the best players to have never won a major of any description, let alone The Open, Lee Westwood came agonisingly close to glory in 2009. An eagle on the seventh in his final round at Turnberry took him into a lead, which he held or shared for the majority of what followed. That was until a disastrous run-in saw him bogey three of the final four holes, most punishingly three-putting on the 18th green, to miss out on the play-off by a shot. "It's gone from frustration to sickness," he said. "I played great all week. I was pretty calm and collected. Third place is not to be sniffed at in a major championship ... but it's disappointing, really." He was a place better off the following year, finishing second behind the dominant Louis Oosthuizen at St Andrews, while in 2013 he led after three rounds but faded on the final day as Phil Mickelson claimed the honours. Westwood's run of 27 consecutive Opens ended in 2023. Jose Maria Olazabal Olazabal's major debut came at St Andrews in 1984, when his compatriot Seve Ballesteros won in thrilling style, but the talented Basque ace never truly came close to matching his fellow countryman's exploits. A two-time Masters winner in 1994 and 1999, Olazabal finished third, two shots behind Nick Faldo, at Muirfield in 1992. Thirteen years later, back where it all began for him at St Andrews, he was part of the final group after ending day three in second, two shots behind Tiger Woods. But Woods was not a man to surrender a lead and took his record to 10-0 when doing so in the final round of majors, while Olazabal faltered with a two-over 74 to finish in a tie for third with Fred Couples. Those were his only top-10 finishes at golf 's oldest major, with his last one coming in 2006. Byron Nelson A five-time major winner with 52 titles on the PGA Tour, Byron Nelson was an Open away from a career grand slam. His chances were hampered, however, by the fact he only travelled to play in it twice. The American finished fifth in 1937 and tied for 32nd in 1955, preferring to play most of his golf in his native country. Bernhard Langer Nobody has won The Senior Open more than the German, who has lifted the trophy four times, but the Hall of Famer never got over the line at The Open. Langer, who debuted as an 18-year-old in 1976, came closest in 1981 and 1984, finishing runner-up behind Bill Rogers and Seve Ballesteros respectively. The first of those came at Royal St George's, where he later finished third in 1986 and 1993, two of four third-placed finishes he recorded. A two-time Masters winner, Langer played his final rounds at Augusta earlier this year in his 41st edition of the competition and the 67-year-old cut an emotional figure as he realised age had caught up with him. 'The course is just getting too long and I'm getting shorter and shorter and I'm hitting hybrids where the other kids are hitting 9-irons and 8-irons, maybe even wedges,' he said. 'So I knew I wasn't going to be in contention anymore."
