Let’s be generous and say that Colin Montgomerie fully deserved the (almost) rapturous reception he received on Friday as he strode (almost) majestically up the fairway and on to the 18th green at Carnoustie.

It wasn’t quite like it might have been had he been doing it on Sunday afternoon, soaking up a tumultuous, patriotic roar as he approached his final putt in the Open, three shots clear of his nearest rival and about to pick up his first major title in 20-odd years of trying. But one day, you never know,.

Monty had to wait around for two or three hours, having added a 76 to his first-round 71 for a five-over total of 147 to see if he would make the cut for the final two rounds. At 9.15pm he discovered he hadn’t made it. The cut off mark was four-over.

'Far be it from me to be over-patriotic, or anti-American, but do I sense that Carnoustie has proved a bit too tough for the hot favourite?'


So sport’s most famous 'nearly man' had narrowly missed out again, just as he did last year. Is he used to it? “You never get used to it even though it is frustrating. But I’ll just keep on trying,” was his philosophical response. And you have to wonder why one of Europe’s finest of all time simply cannot make it at the crucial moment.

On the European stage he has been an absolute master, and in the Ryder Cup a steadfast winner. He has won the European Order of Merit on no fewer than eight occasions, seven of them in consecutive years.  And he’s been a finalist in five Major championships, but never a winner on the world stage. If that doesn’t make his sport’s top 'nearly man', I don’t know what does.

Now all we have to worry about is whether the Old Claret Jug returns to European custody or whether it is whisked away on a long haul journey either east or west.

Nobody was able to make an impression on Sergio Garcia’s overnight two-shot lead on Friday. He went round in a steady-as-they-come level-par 71 to remain at six under, still two shots clear. But the chasing pack has taken on something of a new look with the little inscrutable Korean J J Choi moving into second place, two shots off the pace but one ahead of Garcia’s Spanish compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Then comes a whole gaggle including a couple of Americans, a couple of Argentinians, a South African and, would you believe it, a couple of Brits. Yes, we may still have the chance to cheer home a local lad because bonny Scot Alastair Forsyth and chubby Lee Westwood, the lad from Worksop who is probably better known as Darren Clarke’s best mate, are in there at one under.

Now far be it from me to be over-patriotic, or anti-American, but do I sense that Carnoustie has proved a bit too tough for the hot favourite? Has the Tiger been driven deep into the woods by the chilly conditions and, at times, strong winds?

If the Special One of golf is to retain his title then he is going to have to make up seven shots on the leader over the final two rounds. And yes, he is quite capable of doing just that. It isn’t every day of the week that you can get 13/2 against Woods winning a tournament. But those are the latest odds on offer, so stand by for a stampede heading for the betting shops.