COLIN Montgomerie (pictured) has slammed Europe's top players for snubbing this year's Wales Open and feels it is a personal insult to Celtic Manor owner Sir Terry Matthews.

'Monty' is the biggest name yet to play at the Celtic Manor's 2010 Ryder Cup course, Wentwood Hills, but he has been disappointed by the response that this year's Wales Open tournament has attracted.

Coupled with the fact that defending champion Paul Lawrie as well as recent European Tour winners Paul Casey and Ignacio Garrido have pulled out, the once blossoming list of entries has taken a severe battering.

On arrival Monty received a personal letter of welcome from Sir Terry and the Ryder Cup star feels the millionaire owner deserved better from the world's best players.

"I'm surprised that there are not more prestigious players here and it's a shame but that suits me down to the ground.

"This is slowly starting to become a major date on the European Tour even and it is not really fair to Sir Terry that he has been let down.

"He's put a lot of his money in and I think he deserved support. I recall one story that two years ago he paid each player £1,000 expenses so that's nearly £150,000 for a start.

"In fact there's more money on offer in this tournament than there is in the Benson and Hedges Open and that speaks volumes of his desire to make this into a major tournament.

"He's a very generous man and I wanted to be here."

Monty was also surprised that defending champion Lawrie failed to show but understood his reasons.

"If you are injured then you are injured and if that is the case then he is right to pull out," said Montgomerie. "But I can certainly say that if I win the Wales Open then health permitting I'll definitely be back here next year.

"As a champion, defending your title is just something you have to do and while it's a shame for Paul Lawrie and for the tournament that he couldn't be here that suitme down to the ground."

The confirmation that Monty will play has given ticket sales a big boost and the Scotsman is delighted to be at the Celtic Manor.

"I've won the English Open, Scottish Open and the Irish Open so I thought now was the right time to try and get the full set and win the Welsh Open.

"The whole place is incredible. The hotel is very impressive but it's difficult to see as far as 2010 when the Ryder Cup will be held here.

"Obviously the course will mature quite a lot and there will be new holes put in and the whole character will also change so it is quite hard to make any assumption or comments," said Montgomerie.

"But what I have seen so far has been very good.

"It's a very challenging golf course already so in seven years time then it should be even better."