Montogomerie backs Europeans at PGA Championship

Scottish golf veteran, Colin Montgomerie, is confident about the prospect of seeing a European lift the Wannamaker Trophy at the end of this week’s US PGA Championship.

Montgomerie, who has been priced the bookies’ favourite to miss the cut at the PGA Championship on Friday, believes that Lee Westwood is in with an excellent chance of winning the first major of his career at the Hazeltine National Golf Club.

"I think we will have four or five players in the top 10 this week," Montgomerie told reporters on Wednesday. "We have a fantastic wealth of talent in Europe now, more than I have ever witnessed in my 22 years on tour, and I am looking to have more than a few of them put in a super effort."

Montgomerie’s assessment of Europe’s prospects ahead of the 2009 PGA Championship are unsurprising considering the fact that he will captain the European Ryder Cup team in Wales next year. However, Westwood, for one, also feels quietly confident of raiding the silverware at one of America’s biggest tournaments.

"I feel I'm a better player now than I was,” said Westwood, who shot a round of 65 in the final round of last week’s WGC-Bridgestone International. “There are less weaknesses in my game, my short game is obviously a lot stronger. I think I hit the ball a little bit better tee-to-green as well. I think that's improved."