 Monty ended a 16-month wait for a win in Singapore last September |
Britain's Colin Montgomerie continues his quest to return to the coveted world top 50 as the European Tour heads to China for the TCL Classic. The 41-year-old, ranked 54, needs to finish no worse than second at Hainan Island to get back into the top 50 and qualify for the Players' Championship.
In addition, the qualification deadline for the US Masters is 28 March.
Should Monty, facing competition from Paul Casey, not qualify this week he will play in Indonesia the week after.
The year has started well for Montgomerie, following his much publicised personal problems of the past 12 months.
He has finished no worse than tied for 11th in his first three starts.
 Casey will provide a strong challenge for Montgomerie |
"We are getting there," said the Scot, who won the inaugural TCL when it was sanctioned solely by the Asian Tour in 2002.
"I'm hitting the ball great and I've just got to hole more putts."
This event at the Yalong Bay Golf Club is the first of five European tournaments being played in China this year.
Yalong Bay has been the venue for the Asian Tour's Sanya Open for the past two years, with Australian Terry Pilkadaris winning last year in a play-off after he finished 18-under with American Clay Devers after 72 holes.
Aside from Montgomerie and Casey, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn and Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam are also competing.
MMIX
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Great balls of China