'Keep Cam and carry on' – Why Tiger Woods should be inspired by Cameron Smith’s maverick Open Championship golf triumph

It historically tends to be more a hellish business than landing in ‘Hell’ bunker at St Andrews. Raising your head above the parapet to make predictions in professional golf has always been a business best left to an inebriated soul or three at the 19th hole. At least those at the bar can blame it on John Barleycorn.

Sober-suited experts have nowhere to go when they set themselves up for a fall. Ad/> When Colin Montgomerie – the eight-time European Order of Merit winner and a former world No. 2 – began to bestow riches upon Rory McIlroy a good hour before the Northern Irishman teed off for the final round on Sunday afternoon, it was probably wise to start pricing up alternative options.

The OpenA to Z of the 150th Open Championship: Smith's mullet, Rory's near miss, Tiger's walkYESTERDAY AT 09:09 Monty witnessed McIlroy enjoy a four-shot lead over the field alongside Viktor Hovland on Saturday evening and boldly predicted the only man he needed to fend off was his playing partner. «It is a duel, but there's one winner,” commented Montgomerie. “Rory's going to win this and I'll tell you why.

I truly believe that Viktor Hovland thinks that Rory is better than him. Controversial it might be.» With a waft of nostalgia drifting over his memories, Monty even compared McIlroy to Tiger Woods and recalled his problems in failing to upstage Tiger at the 2005 Open around St Andrews when he finished second, five strokes adrift of the US icon. “I think this is Rory's day.

I think the thing about Rory now, in a Tiger-esque way,” continued Monty, warming to the theme. “I finished second to him in 2005. Did I think I would beat him in a round at St Andrews? Deep down? If I was honest with you, I'd say no.