Open hope Colin Montgomerie happy to be up with the lark and on the first tee at 6.30am
Scottish star reckons hitting the first tee shot of this year's Open on his home course gives him the 'perfect' shot at glory
COLIN MONTGOMERIE reckons hitting the first tee shot of this year's Open on his home course gives him the "perfect" shot at glory - even with a 4.30am alarm call!
Monty, who grew up a stone's throw from Royal Troon and played the course as a kid, gets his bid underway at 6.30am on Thursday.
The European Ryder Cup legend aims to arrive at the course at 5am, gobble down some food and then kick off his campaign alongside England's Luke Donald and Australian Marc Leishman.
And with no one else treading the turf before him, the three-time senior Major champion reckons he can spring a surprise before the weather turns around midday.
He said: "I've got to be at the club to have something to eat so 5am I'll finish eating - well I take longer than most so it will be 5.30am!
"I've got to be up at 4.30am, two hours before kick-off, which is very early.
"But at the same time it's a great time to play on a links course.
"You won't get the greens any better and the course will be immaculate. The wind will be at its least and there will be no one ahead of me. It's great, Bernhard Langer's not ahead of me!
"But it's perfect, it's perfect. It's just working out great."
Montgomerie came through final qualifying at Glasgow Gailes to gain a spot in the field.
And though he joked the crowds may not be "bused, trained, flown and ferried"; in especially for his start, he is sure he can whip them up into a frenzy with a good opening round.
Monty said: "I don't anticipate the stands to be full at 6.30am but because I have two great players alongside me in Marc Leishman and Luke Donald I'm sure the stands will fill up as we go round.
"But it's so early it's almost late. Staying locally I've not far to travel so I'll be on time.
"Joking apart it's a very good time to play.
"If you were to ask the players what time they'd like to go out the first day generally it's very early.
"The wind tends to pick up around 11, 12 o'clock with the tide coming in and by that stage we're finished.
"It's a very positive time in many ways."
England's Masters champ Danny Willett tees off at 9.25am alongside world No 1 Jason Day and Rickie Fowler with Rory McIlroy in the group behind.
Two-time Major winner Jordan Spieth is also in the morning wave at 9.03am with Justin Rose, while Dustin Johnson bids for a second straight Major from 2.04pm.