COLIN MONTGOMERIE sealed his remarkable return to The Open by whispering: “This one’s for you dad.”
Monty, 53, battled through 36 holes in a day at a course he had never played before to clinch a place at his home club Royal Troon on Thursday.
He was also up against seasoned professionals and hungry young players barely half his age.
But rounds of 66 and 71 earned Monty the third and final qualifying spot at Gailes Links.
Montgomerie’s father James, 86, was secretary at Troon for more than 20 years and is set for a special honour once The Open is over.
Monty revealed: “We are both honourary members but my dad is associated even more closely with Troon than I could ever be. He becomes club president the week after The Open and he is so proud.
“My last Open was at St Andrews in 2010 — my 21st in a row — and I really did think it would be my last.
“If The Open wasn’t at Troon this year I don’t think I would even have entered.
“Qualifying is incredibly difficult. You are up against 71 other players, most of them European Tour or Challenge Tour pros a lot younger than you.
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“With only three spots to play for it becomes a bit of a lottery and 36 holes in a day is no picnic. But I’d have played 18 more if I’d had to.
“I also knew how proud it would make my father feel if I could play my way into the field.
“That is why when I qualified, there was that quiet moment of celebration, and a very real sense of ‘this one’s for you’.
“My father was so excited when I I told him. I’d asked him to stay away from qualifying because I was nervous enough as it was — but he’ll be there when I tee off at Troon.”
Monty will have home advantage on a course where he first played as a wide-eyed six year old.
But not so at Gailes — even though the Irvine course is just a few miles up the road.
He added: “Everyone thought I must know Gailes really well but I had never played the course before.
“I quickly contacted my caddie, Alistair, who now lives in North Carolina and he came straight over.
“We played practice rounds on Sunday and Monday and then 36 holes on Tuesday.
“I practised hard, too, hitting a lot of balls, because I knew this was my last chance. But it was worth it.
“And when my name is announced on that first tee on Thursday, with my father smiling across at me, there will be an even greater sense of fulfilment.”
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