Colin Montgomerie is hopeful of playing in the Accenture World Match Play championship in California next week - less than a month after fearing he would be out of golf for a long time. The seven-time European number one walked out of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia on January 25 with a recurrence of back trouble.
The Scot immediately returned home for treatment and was assured the problem was not as serious as he first thought. The 38-year-old has not played since, but plans to fly to America this weekend and then test his back. The first round of the £3.5million event at La Costa near San Diego begins next Wednesday.
Ireland will be represented by Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.
Filed by Shane Murray
