TROON, Scotland -- Colin Montgomerie will set his alarm for 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, make the short trip in the dark to Royal Troon after the earliest breakfast he can remember, and prepare to welcome the golfing world to his family home.In front of his 86-year-old father and many other family members, Montgomerie will hit the first shot of the 145th -- and possibly his last -- British Open at 6:35 a.m. and then walk the links course he calls his own.This is where I started playing, Montgomerie said. This is home.For the 53-year-old Scot, it will be like a trip down memory lane.Montgomerie took his first golf shot on the childrens course at Troon, as a 6-year-old, and says his childhood home is five houses up from the club, on South Beach Road. He is now an honorary member, like his brother, and his father -- James -- is a past secretary and will soon be voted in as the clubs president.From our point of view, as a family, its great, James Montgomerie, who has a 60-year association with Troon, told The Associated Press. Ill feel very proud, in the circumstances.The younger Montgomerie is playing in his first Open Championship in six years after getting through qualifying at nearby Glasgow Gailes last month. He has said he will not attempt to qualify again, so this could be his last shot at the claret jug.The R&A, which organizes the British Open, chose to mark the occasion by offering Montgomerie the chance to hit the first shot of the tournament. He gladly accepted the honor.This wasnt drawn out the hat, he said, laughing.The days of Montgomerie challenging for major championships appear long gone -- except, of course, on the 50-and-over circuit where he has won three senior majors since 2014. He has finished in second place on five occasions at majors, including once at the British Open at St. Andrews in 2005 when he was five shots behind Tiger Woods.Montgomerie said his goal for the week is simply to walk down the 18th fairway on Sunday, yet deep down theres a sense that he thinks he could push the younger generation this week.The former 2nd-ranked player and eight-time European No. 1 spoke at length Monday about the courses storied par-3 8th hole -- the so-called Postage Stamp -- the typical wind directions, and the benefits of his old-fashioned swing that keeps the ball flight low and of teeing off early before worse weather strikes.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, Montgomerie said. No, no reason at all. Wholesale Stars Jerseys . 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Cheap Adidas Stars Jerseys . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Cheap Dallas Stars Jerseys . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. Third-ranked Michigan often looks unstoppable on offense while averaging 50 points per game.And that side of the ball isnt even the Wolverines most impressive unit.The run stuffers, pass rushers and ball hawks have been superb through the first half of the campaign and Michigan looks to improve to 7-0 when it hosts Illinois in a Big Ten contest Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network).The Wolverines (3-0 Big Ten) lead the nation in scoring defense (10.3 points per game), total defense (212.8 yards per game) and passing defense (113.7). They also rank ninth in rushing defense (99.2) and have held five opponents to 14 or fewer points.The unit has been exceptional on third-down defense, allowing 10 of 82 opportunities (a national-low 12.2 percent) to be converted. Rutgers was 0 for 17 in such situations in Michigans last contest -- a 78-0 victory Oct. 8.Senior defensive end Taco Charlton said the players are aware of the superb statistical tidbits.We definitely care because it shows the hard work does pay off, Charlton told reporters. It shows in the rankings and in the games were a great defense and weve been able to prove that and were proving out there we are that great defense we always talked about, that coaches talked us being.Star outside linebacker Jabrill Peppers (10 tackles for losses) is the marquee player on the unit but he is far from the lone standout.Defensive coordinator Don Brown has been the mastermind of the success. But even better is that nobody is satisfied -- even with all those stellar stats midway through the season.Its about not getting complacent and trying to perfect your craft every day, and I think were doing a good job of that, senior defensive tackle Ryan Glasgow said. We have a more mature team thats not going to let this go to their head, but well see in the second half of the season. We still have a ways to go.Illinois coach Lovie Smith is well aware of the impressive nuggets -- both defensively and offensively and knows his squad is facing a formidable foe.We realize who we have this week, Smith said at a press conference. Theyre one of the best teams in the country. We look forward to that challenge.Making the task of springing an upset tougher is this fact: The Fighting Illini (2-4, 1-2) have droopped 14 consecutive games against ranked foes and 23 of their past 24.ddddddddddddSmith, the former NFL coach of the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recorded his first Big Ten victory when Illinois defeated Rutgers 24-7 last week. The victory halted a four-game skid.Sophomore quarterback Chayce Crouch could be in for line for his second consecutive start. Senior starter Wes Lunt missed the Rutgers game with a back injury and Smith hasnt indicated whether Lunt will return against the Wolverines.Crouch replaced Lunt in the Oct. 8 loss to Purdue and was 6-of-14 passing for 92 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his start against the Scarlet Knights.Chayce Crouch was just gutting it out, playing good football again like he did the previous week, Smith said. We would have liked that interception back, but just liked the energy hes brought to our football team.Slowing down the Wolverines offense figures to be a challenge for a team that allowed an average of 36.8 points during its four-game losing streak.However, Illinois does a feature a trio of solid defenders in senior middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson Jr. (58 tackles, two interceptions), and senior defensive ends Carroll Phillips (11 tackles for losses, including four sacks) and Dawuane Smoot (eight tackles for losses).Michigans rushing attack rolled up 481 yards and tied a school record of nine touchdowns in the rout of Rutgers. Freshman Chris Evans had a season-best 153 yards and leads the team with 400 yards.Sophomore quarterback Wilton Speight has passed for 1,194 yards and 11 touchdowns but coach Jim Harbaugh is most impressed with the fact he has been intercepted only twice in 159 passes. Senior receiver Amara Darboh has team-best outputs of 25 receptions, 400 yards and five touchdowns.The Wolverines continue to incorporate Peppers into the offense and he is averaging 19.6 yards on five rushes.Hes just got really great instincts with the ball in his hands, Michigan offensive coordinator Tim Drevno said. He kind of knows to feel something and its second nature to him. Hes got a special thing about him. You dont find guys like that. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '