Montgomerie set for 500th European Tour start

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Colin Montgomerie was given a cake to celebrate his by Spanish players Miguel Angel Jimenez (left) and Jose Maria Olazabal (right).

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) -- Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will celebrate his 500th European Tour appearance at this weekend's Andalucian Open.

The 45-year-old Montgomerie is hoping the milestone can produce a return to form to put the Scottish golfer in contention for a 32nd European victory.

"I am very proud of this moment. A lot of memories have come and gone and a lot of interesting things have gone on in my career," said Montgomerie, who will captain Europe against the United States at Wales in 2010. "A lot of highlights."

Montgomerie, who has amassed nearly $32 million in career earnings, has a record 182 top-10 finishes since his debut in 1987 but has slipped to 137th in the Official World Golf Rankings, meaning he is set to miss next month's Masters.

"I'd love to make it 183 this week which would mean I would be getting back to talking about the golf and getting back into contention in these events," Montgomerie said. "I feel I'm playing OK but I am not quite in contention yet."

Montgomerie said he was able to juggle the added Ryder Cup duties on top of his Tour schedule.

"I am still competitive enough to be able to do that. There is a lot going on at the moment, there is no question of that and I am busier than ever ... but when I am away like this I have a number of (spare hours) and I can work on my game," Montgomerie said.

This weekend's tournaments will have a direct impact on the Masters field, as the top 50 players in Monday's rankings earn a spot at Augusta.

Thomas Levet of France, who beat England's Oliver Fisher in a sudden-death playoff to take the title last year, leads the 156-player field at the $1.37 million event, which includes Fisher and Ireland's Peter Lawrie, who won the Spanish Open trophy at the same Real Club de Golf de Sevilla course last year.

Miguel Angel Jimenez leads a 26-player Spanish contingent that includes course designer Jose Maria Olazabal, who has played only eight tournaments in the past year as he recovers from back troubles. Montgomerie confirmed Wednesday that he was planning on making the two-time Masters champion a key member of his backroom staff for the Ryder Cup.

"Jose Maria will be involved in the Ryder Cup in one way or another. I would like him first and foremost to play his way onto the team because I think the passion that he brings to a Ryder Cup is second to none," Montgomerie said. "I would love him to be playing on the team but if not he will be in an administrative role which will be vice captain."