Colin Montgomerie vows to play on despite missing Open

Colin Montgomerie has vowed to play on despite failing to qualify for the Open Championship for the first time in 22 years.

Last year's Ryder Cup captain came up five shots short at the Scottish Open - his last chance to make the grade for the tournament at Royal St George's.

"I will keep trying - there's nothing else to do," said Montgomerie.

"I'm a lot more hopeful than I was three weeks ago. It's been much better."

A month ago the Scot crashed out of the Wales Open with his worst score in Europe for 20 years - 15 over par for two rounds.

A day later the 48-year-old finished last in the Open qualifier at Sunningdale.

But Montgomerie is taking heart from the fact that, at one point, he was joint leader at Inverness.

"I got into a position where I can lead at 48 years old," he said.

"That's not a bad effort, but unfortunately the young guns took over at the end and they've qualified.

"My first Open was 1990 and I've played ever since. It's a proud record.

"Not having won the Open you've got to find a way of qualifying somehow. I've done that for 21 years in a row.

"It's given me more incentive to get back to it next time. That's the goal and that's the objective now - not to miss another one."

Compatriot Scott Jamieson takes the final spot at Royal St George's instead, and Montgomerie thinks the six-strong Scottish contigent may do well at Sandwich.

"I think a number of Scots could do quite well down there this year,"he said.

"Scott Jamieson has done tremendously well this year and I wish him well."

The Scot also sees a brighter future for Castle Stuart course after bad weather curtailed the event to just three rounds.

"It was quite weird really," he said.

"Inverness is one of the driest areas of Scotland normally, and then they've had the worst weather in the area during the summer for almost 400 years, which is incredible.

"It's a real shame that it happened and, hopefully, when we go back next year people can see Castle Stuart in its true beauty."