Colin Montgomerie believes Gleneagles will draw bumper crowds when it stages The Senior Open presented by Rolex for the first time this summer.
The Scotsman, who is the oldest active player on the DP World Tour, is targeting his first victory at the Major Championship’s 35th edition to go along with his Senior US Open and two Senior PGA Championship titles.
Montgomerie will make his ninth appearance at the Senior Open when the King’s Course plays host to a stellar field from July 21-24, the week after the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews.
“I think the crowds could be the best we’ve ever seen at the Senior Open,” said Montgomerie.
“People will want to come to a venue with a steeped in history and Gleneagles is a real spectators’ course.
“We saw it with the Ryder Cup in 2014, it’s a wonderful place to watch golf.
“I’m hoping people stick around after The Open at St Andrews, some of the Americans may stay on and watch us up at Gleneagles, which would be nice.”
People will want to come to a venue with a steeped in history and Gleneagles is a real spectators’ course.
Montgomerie finished as runner-up to Australia’s Peter O’Malley when the King’s Course staged the Scottish Open in 1992, and the 58-year-old says Gleneagles as a venue is a “special place”.
The James Braid-designed King’s Course, which has undergone changes including the introduction of several new tees in advance of this year’s Senior Open, “oozes class”, according to the 2010 Ryder Cup captain.
“It will be different to the last time many of us played it but it will still be as true as ever,” added Montgomerie.
“A lot of the Americans won’t have played it before I can assure them they will love it.”
