Something for the Open weekend: Squeaky bum time for Colin Montgomerie

Now, before you call up an image of Monty's derrière and think to yourself "wow, that will be some squeak", feel a little sympathy for the burly Scot. Europe's Ryder Cup captain has not missed an Open Championship in 19 years – but this could be his last. Monty has never won – sorry, "has yet to win" – a major and, seeing as he went into last week's French Open without a top-10 finish in a whole year, the chances of him qualifying for St Andrews next year via any money-list is on the Camelot side of remote. So his best chance of extending his run to 20 could be to finish in the top 10 next week. Not as unlikely as it might seem. Monty has his training academy at Turnberry. He might even pop in there himself.

I want that one: Nick Faldo's knighthood

Who says Britain loves a loser? Faldo wins six majors and hears nothing from the Palace for 13 years. He then loses Europe's first Ryder Cup in a decade and receives a gong within nine months. Of course, Faldo will be justifiably proud to be the most-decorated man walking the Turnberry fairways next week (except Prince Andrew, of course). And how nice it will be to see him back after a two-year absence. Faldo is 52 next Saturday and the press's good wishes will come from the bottom of their heart. Or something like that.

Keeping it in the family: John Daly

The Wild Thing took off the top of his motorhome the other week when driving under a low bridge (no seriously). Fortunately, he and his teenaged daughter were unhurt. Daly has since promised to bring Shynah over to the major he won in 1995 and together with his latest sweetheart, the former Hooters girl Anna Cladakis, the trio will form one of the happier family pictures of the tournament. Let us just hope Daly is more inspired by Turnberry than he was in 1994. Legend has it he was gutted to spot the real lighthouse. "When I heard this place was famous for its lighthouse on the rocks," Daly may or may not have whined, "I thought it was going to be some super-dooper strong Scottish whisky cocktail."