Montgomerie hires veteran Oakmont caddie

Monty turns to local caddie

Having split with long-serving caddie Alastair McLean at the weekend, Colin Montgomerie has acquired the services of local Oakmont caddie, Billy Goddard, for this week?s US Open.

Recommended by the Pennsylvania club, Goddard, 62, has been a caddie at Oakmont for 48 years. The veteran bagman told BBC Radio Five Live, ?I told him if he needed another opinion, I?d be happy to help but I?m just going to do my job and keep my mouth shut.? He followed on by saying, ?The caddie master called me up on Friday and he said I might have a bag you would like. He explained everything and I said I?d be glad to do that job.?

The 44-year-old Scot has now not won a tournament since last December and has slumped to 39th in the world rankings having been one of only two Europeans in the world?s top 10 less than two years ago.

However, Mongomerie can take strength from the fact that he was part of the three-way play-off at Oakmont?s last US Open in 1994, which was won by Ernie Els, and is confident that Goddard can give him an advantage over players with caddies less familiar with the course.

?He knows the greens better than anyone else,? said Montgomerie. ?He has been here six days a week for the last 30 years. Putting was the area most concerning me. I have always been able to hit the ball but I am not getting it in the hole."