ERST LESEN! » f since 2007.EDMONTON -- The Edmonton

TROON, Scotland -- His childhood home is just five doors down the street. The first swings he ever took were on this very property. Colin Montgomerie is back where it all began, the rare instance where a competitor is playing his home course at The Open.Of course, there was a time when Monty came here for the very opportunity that awaits him when the 145th Open begins on Thursday at Royal Troon.Back then -- specifically 1997 and 2004, the last two times The Open came to this part of Scotland -- Montgomerie was among the favorites, one of the top players in the world and expected to contend, only to suffer the disappointment that marked his major championship career.Monty swears it will be different this time. He will hit the opening tee shot -- at 6:35 a.m. local time Thursday morning -- and as he even pointed out, that is not occurring by chance.Its a great honor and I take it as such, said Montgomerie, 53, who is playing The Open for the 22nd time, but his first since 2010. Theres no pressure on me anymore. I used to put pressure on myself when I was [No.] 2 in the world and expectations were high. Theres no question.Theres no pressure at 53 years old now. Im just going to enjoy it and take every par, every birdie, if they come along, as a bonus. My goal this week is to attempt to walk down 18 fairway on Sunday. Thats the goal. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.That he is here at all is an accomplishment in itself. At 53, Monty plays most of his golf on the PGA Tour Champions -- where he has won three major titles -- and had competed in just two regular majors over the past five years.But he entered The Opens final qualifying, where just three spots were available at four different courses in the United Kingdom, and he prevailed last Monday at Glasgows Gailes Links.I was nervous, said Montgomerie, who posted his 36-hole score and then had to wait more than two hours to find out he had qualified. I had gotten so close that I wanted to achieve that, knowing what the goal was at the end of the day.Montgomeries father, James, was Troons secretary when Monty was a young boy. The youngster took his first swings on the childrens course and learned the game on the championship course, playing it numerous times before his family moved to England.This is where I started playing, this is home, he said.But Monty is quick to point out his rise as a golfer came later.I think my career was really defined when I went to an American university, said Montgomerie, who played college golf at Houston Baptist. Thats where my career was more defined. This is more junior golf here, really, just learning the etiquette of the game, to be honest. My career was made in America in many ways, when I came back from university in America and then turning pro in 87.There is some irony in that. Montgomerie famously never won on the PGA Tour, never won a major championship. But he had 31 victories on the European Tour, which ranks fourth all time. And he won the Order of Merit a record eight times. And, of course, he was a star of numerous European Ryder Cup teams, captaining the victorious 2010 team.Montgomerie had 10 top-10 finishes in major championships, but just two at The Open, his best a runner-up finish to Tiger Woods in 2005 at St. Andrews. That also happens to be his most recent, and he is well aware this could be his last major championship, his last Open.The reason I did try and qualify and put my heart and soul into it was because it was here, and knowing that this is the last time Ill have the opportunity of playing at Troon, he said. This could be the last time I play in The Open, so its a fantastic opportunity thats arisen here, at Troon, at home.And knowing my way around here and hitting the ball well off the tee and my irons into the greens, and knowing where to miss the shots, theres no reason I cant do well here. No reason at all. 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The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007.EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers have confirmed that prospect Kristians Pelss has died. He was 20. The Oilers released a statement on Saturday saying the team was deeply saddened by the loss of Pelss, who went missing Tuesday and was feared drowned in a river near his home in Riga, Latvia. Local media had reported that Pelss jumped off a bridge and into the fast-flowing Daugava River. "This is the news we feared. Kristians was an outstanding man and we feel terrible he has left us at ssuch a young age," said Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish in a statement.dddddddddddd. "I cant imagine how painful this situation is for the Pelss family." The club added that "details in regards to what led to this tragedy remain unclear." Pelss arrived home in Riga on Monday after playing last season with Edmontons top minor-league team, the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League. He was drafted by the Oilers in the 7th round in 2010. ' ' '