Injured Montgomerie withdraws from Irish Open

LONDON | Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:30pm EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Colin Montgomerie has withdrawn from this week's Irish Open at Killarney with an Achilles strain, the European Tour announced on Tuesday.

The eight-times European number one, 48, is now battling to be fit for the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, near his home, at the end of August. Montgomerie missed the British Open Championship two weeks ago for the first time in 22 years after failing to qualify.

There is sure to be a huge gallery for Wednesday's Irish Open pro-am, with British Open champion Darren Clarke, U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy, 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and three-times major champion Padraig Harrington on show.

Adult spectators at the pro-am will be asked to donate five euros toward the tournament's chief fund-raising activity, child-support organization Barnardos.

(Editing by Dave Thompson)

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