Montgomerie - delighted with performance.

Colin Montgomerie felt he had emerged from "three years in the wilderness" after finishing second in the Open championship at St Andrews.

Montgomerie threatened to claim a fairytale victory at the Home of Golf after closing to within a shot of overnight leader Tiger Woods after nine holes of the final round.

The 42-year-old Scot was unable to maintain that momentum however, dropping three shots on the inward nine to eventually card a closing 72.

That was still good enough for his fourth second place in a major championship and his best performance since finishing sixth in the 1999 USPGA.

And it was all a far cry from starting the year in 81st on the world rankings following a slump in form and the break up of his marriage after 14 years.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed this week and competing again at this level," said Montgomerie, who was also embroiled in a long-running rules controversy following his incorrect drop in the Indonesian Open in March this year.

"It's been eight years since I finished second in a major (to Ernie Els in the 1997 US Open) and that's a long time.

"Fortunately I've remained healthy enough that my career is having a resurgence after three years in the wilderness.

"It's fantastic to get back to where I was in the 90s and there's no disgrace in finishing second to the best player in the world.

"I'm taking lots of positives from this week. I was within one shot of Tiger at the turn and anything can happen. Unfortunately I hit the wrong club on the 11th when the wind switched and made bogey there.

"That threw me a bit and I didn't get the same momentum coming home. In hindsight it would probably have been better to have played with Tiger, he had a great advantage in knowing exactly what was going on.

"But I gave a great effort and I'll be starting the next major full of confidence that I'm capable of doing well."

Montgomerie praised the 40,000+ crowd for their support, adding: "The crowd were phenomenal the whole way round, even when they realised I wasn't going to win.

"They realised my job was to finish second and they helped me do that."