Three-time runner-up Colin Montgomerie has failed to qualify for this year's US Open after shooting a one-over par total of 145 at Walton Heath. The 47-year-old finished seventh in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - his first top-10 finish in nearly three years - but could not carry that form over into Monday. However, the major drama of the day involved Montgomerie's fellow Scot Richie Ramsay, who was not present for his play-off with Swede Johan Edfors and Dane Andreas Harto. The three were set to decide the last of the 11 spots on offer but Ramsay had already left the course to catch a plane to Belfast to attend the wedding reception of fellow professional Gareth Maybin. A fog delay meant play started three-and-a-half hours late, with the play-off taking place after 9pm. Rain also fell for much of the day. Ramsay, who missed his flight but arrived back at the Surrey course too late to take his place, was convinced that play would not be possible in the fading light.
"It's just been an horrific day - an awful, awful day," he said. "As I left it was 5.30pm and guys were teeing off the first. I actually feel physically sick - I can't believe they played when it was pitch dark." Montgomerie added of his own display: "If you don't enter you can't win - I gave it a go. That's hard work - it was miserable out there." Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts secured victory on nine-under par, one shot ahead of Ireland's Shane Lowry. England's Robert Rock, Richard Dinwiddie and David Howell as well as Stephen Gallacher of Scotland also qualified for the year's second major at Congressional. Edfors won the play-off, while the other qualifying spots were filled out by Maarten Lafeber, Thomas Levet, Marcel Siem and Alexander Noren. Ross Fisher missed out but still has a chance to qualify if he can make it into the world's top 50 by the end of next week. He is currently 52nd.
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