By Matt Slater Golf editor

All the pressure will be on the other big names - the Tigers of this world - Monty could sneak in the back door Sandy Lyle

Former Open champion Sandy Lyle says Colin Montgomerie could finally win his first Major by landing a surprise win at Royal St George's next week.

Lyle, himself an unexpected winner at Sandwich in 1985, believes his fellow Scot has the ideal game to conquer the demanding links course.

With accuracy off the tee essential, the 45-year-old Lyle says Montgomerie's precise driving will be a key asset in the battle for the Claret Jug.

Speaking exclusively to this website, Lyle said: "As long as Monty doesn't beat himself up on the way around, he will be fine. It could be his year.

"That course, like Carnoustie, is very demanding on the tee shot. There are lots of bunkers dotted around and the fairways are narrow.

"So you have to give yourself a chance with your second shot because the whole round can get very ugly very quickly.

"Monty has the right game and he will going in to the tournament in a fairly relaxed mode as he knows he's not the favourite.

"All the pressure will be on the other big names - the Tigers of this world - so Monty could sneak in the back door."

In 1985 Lyle became Britain's first Open champion for 16 years

But Montgomerie, who has recently turned 40, will have to beat the cream of the golfing world if he wants to bank the �700,000 winner's cheque.

Lyle expects world number two Ernie Els to stage a strong defence of the title he won so dramatically at Muirfield last year.

And he identifies Els' South African compatriot Retief Goosen and young English duo Ian Poulter and Justin Rose as other candidates for victory at Sandwich.

But the man Lyle believes is still the benchmark for any player with Major pretensions is world number one Tiger Woods.

Lyle, a 1980s world-beater who then endured a lengthy loss of form in the 1990s, is better qualified than most to identify a slump.

So it significant that he totally rejects any talk of Tiger losing his edge.

"It's a load of nonsense - I'd like to use a stronger word to be honest," said Lyle.

My game is as good now as it has been for some time - I'm playing solid, and my confidence levels are reasonably high Sandy Lyle

"He's won four events this year so I can't believe people are talking about a slump. He is still number one in my book."

But what of Lyle's chances of adding a third Major title to his 1985 Open and 1988 Masters wins?

The Shrewsbury-born player has not added to his 27 professional titles since winning the Volvo Masters in 1992, but last year was his best season since 1995 and there have been brief signs of his old quality.

"My game is as good now as it has been for some time," said Lyle. "I'm playing solid, and my confidence levels are reasonably high.

"It all depends if I can make the right start, make some putts and get in contention.

"Who knows? If that happens, and I can control my emotions, things will start to happen."