'brutal' Oakmont Will Test Full Game Says '94 Runner-up Montgomerie

Colin Montgomerie believes this year's US Open venue Oakmont remains arsenic "brutal" arsenic it was for his achy play-off nonaccomplishment successful 1994.

The Pennsylvania course, nicknamed 'The Beast', hosts nan tourney for a grounds 10th clip erstwhile play gets nether measurement connected Thursday.

"It was sadistic then," Montgomerie said, reflecting connected his adjacent telephone 31 years ago.

The Scot surged into a second-round lead pinch a awesome 65 and vanished tied nan regularisation 72 holes for apical spot connected 5 nether par pinch Ernie Els and Loren Roberts.

However, nan erstwhile European Ryder Cup skipper started severely connected his measurement to a 78 successful a 5th afloat information played connected nan Monday, pinch Els needing 2 further holes to spot disconnected Roberts.

It was nan first of 5 runner-up finishes successful awesome championships for Montgomerie, pinch nan sport's apical 4 prizes eluding him.

"The USGA person gone backmost to a US Open of nan 90s, which was deed nan fairway, that's number one," nan 61-year-old said of this week's competition.

"It's nan feline that's going to play nan afloat crippled of play - which intends nan driver, nan robust play, nan chipping and nan putting - that's going to win.

"Sometimes these events are much a putting competition. This isn't. This is nan afloat crippled of golf. Just looking astatine immoderate of nan pictures, it looks perfectly brutal."

World number 20 Robert MacIntyre, 28, is nan sole Scot successful this week's US Open field.

No Scotsman has won a awesome since Paul Lawrie's Open glory astatine Carnoustie successful 1999, while Edinburgh-born Tommy Armour was nan past to bask US Open occurrence backmost successful 1927 - astatine Oakmont.

MacIntyre has 5 profession wins and 2 top-10 finishes astatine majors.

"It's almost there," said Montgomerie of his compatriot. "Being wrong nan apical 20 successful nan world you are evidently bully capable to compete against nan best.

"It's 2 shots a tournament, half a changeable a information and that takes you from 5th spot to a play-off aliases conscionable complete nan line. And it's that infinitesimal quality betwixt a Scottie Scheffler aliases Rory McIlroy aliases Xander Schauffele.

"As a top-20 player, Bob decidedly has nan game. He's bully capable to win. If it each goes his way, he tin win. We haven't said that astir a Scottish golfer for a agelong time."

Montgomerie was speaking astatine nan Trump International Golf edifice successful Aberdeen, wherever he will beryllium hosting this year's PGA Seniors Championship successful August.

The pursuing week, astatine nan aforesaid venue, nan DP World Tour will shape the Scottish Championship.