Colin Montgomerie knows the odds are against him.

Colin Montgomerie's highest finish at Augusta National Golf Club was eighth. He has not won a major in his career. (Chris Thelen/Staff)

"No, I haven't really contended here,'' Montgomerie said Tuesday at a news conference at Augusta National Golf Club.

"Fourteenth time here, well, I've played 13 and had one top 10, so that's not really contending, unfortunately.''

For this week's Masters Tournament, Montgomerie said, he's hoping to change that and wouldn't mind a little help from the field.

"I'm not saying I'm playing well enough to win possibly,'' he admitted. "But I remember someone saying in '91 that if anyone wanted to throw it away, it would be quite nice if I'm just there to pick it up.''

It was in 1998 that Montgomerie tied for eighth, his highest finish in a span at the Masters that started in 1992.

Montgomerie didn't make the cut in 2003 and 2004 and didn't qualify for last year's tournament.

"Sitting at home watching it last year made me very determined to try to get back into it, yes certainly,'' Montgomerie said. "It hurt slightly because I was actually playing quite well at the time. ... I just look forward to trying to challenge here, you know, like I haven't done in the past.''

That past didn't include recent changes lengthening Nos. 1, 4, 7, 11, 15 and 17 for a total yardage of 7,445.

Montgomerie said the 11th hole has become more difficult with the changes, but he agrees with the rest of the course alterations.

"I think we have to keep going,'' he said. "You can't go backward in this world; you have to go forward.''

Doing just that with a shot at this year's Masters would be another welcome change for Montgomerie.

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or at preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.