By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent, Long Island

Colin Montgomerie has abandoned plans for a second practice round at Bethpage Black, the monster course on New York's Long Island where the United States Open begins on Thursday.

The reason, almost inevitably, was the state of the Scot's back.

Unlike his last three tournaments, Montgomerie is not at the moment a doubtful starter this time, but even after a week off he feels the need for more rest and more treatment on the eve of the event.

"I'm not fit enough to do two," admitted the 38-year-old.

"I'll do some chipping and putting, but basically I'm going to take the day off and relax.

"My back's not great, but I wouldn't have made the trip if I didn't think I could win."

The past month has convinced him he can. Despite all the hours he has spent with an osteopath and also with surgeons assessing whether he might need an operation - they assured him he did not - he has finished third, second, second again and fourth on his last four starts.

And one of those seconds, of course, was in Germany when he pushed Tiger Woods to a play-off before losing at the third extra hole.

The undulating, 7,214-yard, par 70 Bethpage layout - and the heat - clearly took its toll when Montgomerie practised on Tuesday with England's David Howell, Ireland's Darren Clarke and Dane Thomas Bjorn.

As they set off Clarke and Bjorn were each handed (by Woods' coach Butch Harmon) one of the 25,000 "Be Nice To Monty" badges an American magazine has had made to accompany an article imploring hecklers not to spoil the week for Montgomerie or anybody.

The pair duly pinned them onto their caps - "just to wind him up," confessed Clarke - but Montgomerie has been taking the badges in good spirit ever since he heard about the idea.

"Darren and Thomas wore them just to annoy me further, but the crowds out there were exceptional and long may that continue," he said, aware that come the championship and come the possibility that he is in contention he is going to have to put up with a lot of noise.

Even Woods, practising just ahead of Montgomerie, noted: "Some of the stuff I heard I couldn't really repeat, but the fans are really into it.

"That was true even at 7am when we teed off. The excitement they bring is tremendous and I hope all the fans are respectful of all the players."

Montgomerie was not mentioned by name by the world number one, but he probably appreciated Woods' comment nonetheless.

Montgomerie has been advised to get into stronger physical condition to help extend his career, but he said: "I can't start that yet because I'm not fit enough to.

"It's a Catch 22 situation. I'm still very fragile."

He does not consider missing out on a second practice round too much of a disadvantage.

Accompanied as he was not just by caddie Andy Prodger, but also by his sports psychologist Hugh Mantle, Montgomerie said: "We took enough time today to understand where not to go and that's the most important thing before any tournament."

As for what he thinks of the course Montgomerie stated: "Everybody said it was going to be tough and it is.

"Four 69s (four under par) would be very, very good. Anything under par would be exceptional, in fact.

"I hit driver on all but two of the par fours and fives and it's easy enough to get on a bogey trail. But I'm hitting the fairways and if I keep doing that I've got a chance.

"The greens are so pure you could play snooker on them. They're probably the best I've ever played on and I hope I can keep putting the way I have for the last two months."

Bethpage is the longest course ever used for the event - one yard longer than Congressional in 1997. Montgomerie was second there, starting with a 65, but then slumping to a 76.

That was the day the serious heckling began and because of the way he reacted he was dubbed "Mrs Doubtfire" after the Robin Williams character in the film of that name.

On his last month-long trip leading up to the Masters in April he did a good job of not responding to any attempts to upset him and, although there were a few people unhappy that he did not stop to sign autographs coming off the 18th there were many more who applauded him.