Stubbs expects Monty to play on Seniors Tour when time comes

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Andy Stubbs, the managing director of the European Senior Tour, is confident Colin Montgomerie will play on the circuit when he turns 50 in three years' time and believes Bernhard Langer's success in the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie will have fuelled the Scot's thirst for success beyond the regular Tour.
Montgomerie has always been somewhat lukewarm on the subject of senior golf but Stubbs feels watching the likes of Langer, his former Ryder Cup team-mate, winning an over-50s major, will influence the 47-year-old as he edges closer to becoming eligible.
Asked if he was expecting to have Montgomerie on board eventually, Stubbs said: "Anyone that's had a record in major championship history or Ryder Cup captaincy or participation, yes. (Jack] Nicklaus was the one that said he would never play senior golf, and he did. He didn't play too many; he picked and chose his events. I think Colin will do the same."
Stubbs believes the majors in particular will be attractive to Montgomerie but is hoping the paths taken by the likes of Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam since they turned 50 will have shown the current Ryder Cup captain that the ever-expanding European circuit can provide a good level of competition on his own doorstep as opposed to moving to America, as Langer has done, to play on the Champions Tour.
"My instinct is that Colin would not be attracted by that (the Champions Tour]," he added. "Ian and Sam both had a little go at that, but they don't enjoy going to their room at seven at night watching TV; they would rather be in the bar having a cocktail or a fizzy water. The guys (on the European Senior Tour] like each other's company. You've witnessed it around Ryder Cups, it's a big family. I don't think Colin will go to America and mix particularly well. I think he's likely to want to play in Europe."
Stubbs is in Rome today hoping to sign a contract for a new tournament in October. If successful, the 2010 schedule will have been increased to 20 in the space of 12 months. "That would be five more events from last year in the deepest recession anyone can remember and it's a compliment to those guys out there that play on this tour," he said.
"My job is to make sure that all of our tournaments in different parts of the world become bigger and better and I think we will attract him (Montgomerie] to play a handful of events. I think Ian and Sam are your benchmark. They don't play all the tournaments, probably 12-15 a year, but they play enough that they enjoy," he said.
Langer's win at Carnoustie was watched by approximately 33,000 fans over the course of the week.