Montgomerie is aiming high

GOLF/Singapore Masters: Colin Montgomerie begins the defence of his Caltex Masters in Singapore today but he has set his sights this year on making a bigger impact around the world.

The Scot thrust himself back into the limelight by holing the winning putt at the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills last September but, that apart, 2004 was a less than memorable year for him.

His world ranking seemed to be in terminal decline last season - he has dropped to 82nd - while there was a very public divorce from wife Eimear to contend with away from the course.

However, a new year has brought new hope for the seven-time European Order of Merit winner and he remains confident he can regain his game, starting at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

"My world ranking dropped dramatically last year and I have to get it back to the top 25 in the world," he said. "I'm over 40 now and it is more difficult but at the same time, I have a huge ambition to succeed still.

"There are certain tournaments that you have to get into the top 50 to try to compete in, events such as The Players Championship and the majors.

"I'm looking forward to the next two weeks especially, here in Singapore and next week in Melbourne (Heineken Classic) which are two big events at the start of the season. I'd love to win one of them and get my ranking back on the road.

"I've got to perform. I'm practising harder, I have more time to practice now so I'll just have to go out and do it."

Montgomerie began his preparations by spending last week in Dubai - at the course which he developed and bears his name - but that was a path trodden by Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood, who is one of his main rivals in Singapore. Westwood is also playing his first tournament of the season but a 10-week winter lay-off has left the Worksop golfer needing to fine-tune parts of his game.

"My swing feels pretty good but my short game might be a little rusty," he said. "Hopefully I won't need it too much. I feel relaxed and refreshed. I have always enjoyed playing out here and that is why I have always done quite well. The only thing that I have got going against me is that it is my first week of the year but I'm very keen to play."

Fellow Ryder Cup winner David Howell, Thomas Bjorn and last season's Volvo PGA Championship winner Scott Drummond are also competing in the £536,000 event.

The region's challengers will be led by Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee, the Asian Tour's 2003 number one Arjun Atwal, of India, and China's Zhang Lian-wei, 2003 Caltex Masters champion.

Graeme McDowell, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and Gary Murphy make up the Irish challenge.