Faldo, Montgomerie ready for SAS Championship test

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

CARY, N.C. – As relative newcomers to the Champions Tour, Sir Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie were introduced at a media gathering for the SAS Championship that begins play on Friday at Prestonwood Country Club.

Faldo will make his North American Tour debut while Montgomerie will play in his eighth Tour event this season.

Both will be teeing off as part of the SAS Championship field for the first time and are looking forward to the challenge of contending for a Tour title at Prestonwood.

Faldo has only played in two other Tour events, the 2007 and 2009 Senior Open Championships where he tied for 14th and tied for 38th, respectively.

“I would love to get in there and, as they call it, scare myself,” Faldo said.

“I hope I can get my name on that leaderboard and see what it feels like again.  That was always the thrill in my playing career.”

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

Montgomerie concurred with similar thoughts as he continues to compete on a regular North American tour for the first time in his career.

His best finishes this season have been a tie for seventh at the 3M Championship and a ninth place finish at the Constellation Senior Players Championship.

“The reason I think we’re all out here is because we’re competitors,” Montgomerie said.

I think that’s what keeps us going. Yeah, I mean, hopefully you can get into a situation where you’re one back or two back going into Sunday’s round. Oh yeah, game on.”

Having both seen the course layout for the first time, they were both impressed and look forward to playing it.

It’s a nice golf course,” Faldo said.

“Exactly what we want really because wherever you hit it, because of the rains, it’s just going to stick there so it’s a nice course. We’ll just see what we can do, see what shots we can hit.”

“Very good golf course,” Montgomerie added.

“I think the members are very fortunate to have such a lovely club here. It’s quite a long course playing as long as it possibly can. The greens have stayed particularly dry, so all in all, a super test, yeah.”

Montgomerie will tee off at 11:05 a.m. on the first tee on Friday, playing in a group with Jay Don Blake and Loren Roberts, while Faldo will follow close behind when his group consisting of Tom Kite and 2011 champion Kenny Perry begins their round at 11:35 a.m.