Montgomerie's Call: Save Historic Opens
Colin Montgomerie urges PGA Tour to preserve historic national championships amid streamlining efforts
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Colin Montgomerie, a board member on the DP World Tour, is pushing back against the PGA Tour's plans to tighten control over its tournament schedule. He wants historic national championships — like the RBC Canadian Open and the Scottish Open — to stay open to all, not just elite players. National Post reported that Montgomerie's message is simple: "Make them Opens."
The PGA Tour is working to streamline its events and gain more control over field sizes and player eligibility. Montgomerie argues that national championships have a special identity that must be protected in any new system.
Montgomerie Wants Opens to Be Truly Open
Montgomerie says that if a tournament carries the word "Open" in its name, it should live up to that promise. He wants the Scottish Open's field expanded from around 120 players to a full 156. He also believes these events should include qualifying rounds — giving club golfers and lower-ranked pros a real shot to compete, according to Calgary Sun.
"If it is an Open, it should have qualifying," Montgomerie said. That idea reflects the tradition of major championships like The Open Championship, where players earn their spots through local and regional qualifying stages. Montgomerie wants that same spirit applied to national opens around the world.
Fall International Series Could Be the Right Home
Montgomerie sees a potential solution in the PGA Tour's expected new structure. Under the planned Championship Series format, top players would compete in a high-stakes schedule. A separate Fall International Series would exist for players outside that elite group, according to Vancouver Sun.
Montgomerie believes national opens would fit naturally into that fall schedule. Placing them there would protect their identity while still giving them a home in the new system. It would also give the events a wider, more open field — which is exactly what he wants.
Montgomerie Also Eyes Asia's Lost Tournaments
Montgomerie's vision goes beyond North America and Scotland. He has also called for the return of the Hong Kong Open and the Singapore Open — two historic events that have struggled to maintain a regular place on major tour schedules. The Province reported that Montgomerie wants to see those tournaments restored.
Both events carry decades of history in Asian golf. Bringing them back would help grow the game in key markets and give players from those regions a flagship event to compete in. For Montgomerie, this is about more than tradition — it's about the global reach of the sport.
DP World Tour Voice in a PGA Tour Debate
Montgomerie is not just speaking as a former player. He sits on the DP World Tour board, giving him a direct stake in how international events are treated. Ottawa Sun noted that he has called on the PGA Tour to respect the importance of historic national championships in its new-look system.
The PGA Tour has not yet finalized its restructuring plans. But pressure from voices like Montgomerie's signals that the Tour will face pushback if national opens are diluted or sidelined. These events mean something to golf fans and host nations — and Montgomerie is making sure that message is heard.
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