Montgomerie prepares for 500th golf event

SEVILLE, Spain, March 25 (UPI) -- Scotland's Colin Montgomerie will make his 500th European Tour career appearance when the Open de Andalucia golf tournament starts Thursday morning.

The 45-year-old Montgomerie marked the occasion Wednesday by celebrating with a handful of friends gathered at the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla in Seville, Spain.

Among the friends were Spaniards Miguel Angel Jiménez, two-time Masters Champion José Maria Olazábal, and Denmark's Søren Kjeldsen.

"I feel very fortunate to say that number -- 500," Montgomerie told WorldGolf.com. "It means I've been healthy for over 20 years. I am very fortunate to say that I've been healthy for all those years and lucky enough at 45 to still be playing. I look forward to every event that I play in."

The 2010 European Ryder Cup captain has won 31 European Tour tournaments and has been earned the Harry Vardon Trophy -- given to the tour's top player annually -- eight times.