Colin Montgomerie fails to qualify for the US Open

Colin Montgomerie fails to qualify for the US Open

Colin Montgomerie made a 900-mile round trip for a new putter but was unable to qualify for the US Open on Monday.

The Scot travelled home to Perthshire from Wentworth on Sunday following his worst-ever performance at the BMW PGA Championship.

Montgomerie, 48, had hoped a new putter would bring him better luck at the 36-hole US Open qualifier at Walton Heath.

He shot a 68 in the opening round but followed up with a 72 to miss out on one of the 11 spots.

"Who in their right mind would do that? But yes, I did," Montgomerie said of his lengthy journey.

"I left Wentworth at 2pm, was home at 8pm, had tea with the family, left at 11pm and got here just after 6am."

Marc Warren, who won the World Cup for Scotland with Montgomerie in 2007, secured his place at a major for the first time after finishing joint winner with Sweden's Alexander Noren on nine under.

"It'll be my major debut, so I can't wait to get out there," said Warren.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I'm sure I'll enjoy the experience, and if I can take the mindset I had [in qualifying] into the tournament, hopefully I can give a good account of myself."

England's Lee Slattery, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, Finn Mikko Ilonen, George Coetzee of South Africa and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen made up the remaining automatic qualifiers on seven under par.

Italian teenager Matteo Manassero was one of four players to emerge victorious in the play-off, with England's Matthew Baldwin, Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and Ireland's Peter Lawrie also going through.

Current Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal failed to qualify.

The Spaniard carded an opening 67 but a 74 ended his hopes of securing a place at the second major of the 2012 season.

The US Open takes place from 14-17 June in California.