McGrane defending in China Open, Monty keeping tabs

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Colin Montgomerie will play the China Open this week, keeping a keen eye on his Ryder Cup European Team prospects.

BEIJING (AP) -- Damien McGrane is back to defend his title at the Volvo China Open, and Colin Montgomerie is in the field to get a first-hand look at his player base for the next Ryder Cup.

But while players have traveled from Europe, South Korea and Australasia for the jointly sanctioned $2.2 million event, the first tournament in the OneAsia series, there'll be a lack of competitors from the Asian Tour.

Launched by the PGA of Australasia, the China Golf Association and the Korean Golf Association and PGA, OneAsia is attempting to rival the established Asian Tour in a battle for control of professional golf on the continent.

OneAsia plans to put on six tournaments in South Korea, China and Australia this year, with goals to include the Japan Tour and grow rapidly to at least 20 tournaments by 2011. But it has already had to postpone the second schedule event, which had been set for China next month, with the Asian Tour claiming that as a victory for the status quo and encouraging its players to boycott OneAsia events.

However, some with dual memberships in the Asian tour and European tour, could play the China Open.

That will be of little concern to Montgomerie, Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup captain, who will be making his 500th European Tour start when he tees it up at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club.

The veteran Scot said the tournament will also give him a chance to compete against some of the players who will play for him in next year's Ryder Cup, including Paul McGinley of Ireland.

"I think it's a great opportunity of mine to captain players that I have competed with and will compete with over the next year and a half," the 45-year-old Montgomerie said.

McGrane will be looking to repeat his feat last year when he rode a strong final round to win by nine strokes and capture his maiden tour victory.

McGrane is one of six former China Open winners in the field, with 2005 champion Stephen Dodd of Wales taking part along with Austria's Markus Brier, who won in 2007. Also competing are hometown favorite Zhang Lianwei, the 2003 champion, David Gleeson of Australia, the 2002 champion, and England's Simon Dyson, who won in 2000.

"It's a great championship to play in," said McGrane, who just celebrated his 38th birthday.