Colin Montgomerie has admitted how he is building himself up for a new lease of golfing life.

The Scot, who was a guest of honour at the PGA of Scotland's annual awards luncheon in Glasgow yesterday, will turn 50 in June and is eager to revitalise his career among the game's glittering golden oldies.

Monty, with a record 31 titles to his name on the regular European circuit, will make his debut on the European Senior Tour in July's Senior Open at Royal Birkdale.

The former European Ryder Cup skipper, who was unbeaten in eight singles matches as a player, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame earlier this week and that has opened up doors to the lucrative US Champions Tour.

Having slipped to 521st on the world rankings, the curtailing of his competitive clout in recent years has hit him where it hurts.

But Monty, whose last win was in the 2007 European Open, insists his sporting life can begin again at 50 and he is relishing the prospect of new playing opportunities during the 2013 campaign.

The Scot, whose best finish in 2012 was a share of sixth in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, said: "As you near 50, options decrease in life but it's different in golf.

"I've gone from one tour to three. At 50-years-old that's not bad. The first six months of 2013 will be in preparation for what happens in the last six months.

"I turn 50 in June and I'm looking forward to getting that feeling, that feeling I used to have on the first tee of a European Tour event, where I believed I could win.

"If I'm being honest, I don't do that now on the first tee of a European Tour event. I can't put my ball down on the first tee believing I can win. I wish I had that feeling but I'm not there.

"I want to get my game in shape and get right up for this British Seniors at Birkdale, which is a real biggy for me, so I can put my tee in the ground there and say to myself: 'I can win this.'"

Montgomerie, who captained Europe to Ryder Cup glory at Celtic Manor in 2010, remains intrigued by Team America's decision to appoint 63-year-old Tom Watson as skipper for the 2014 match at Gleneagles.

The eight-time major winner will be the oldest captain in the event's history and some have suggested that Europe now need to counter that appointment with someone of equally lofty stature.

The frontrunners for the Europeean post remain Paul McGinley, an able deputy over the past few years and an impressive GB&I leader in the Seve Trophy, and the major-winning Darren Clarke.

Monty said: "America had to change something. "They've decided to change their view to think `how can we win this back?'.

"Darren is favourite having won a major championship. It goes back to this best-man-for-the-job business.

"There are certain people who are meant to be in charge of a team and some who are not. We have to select the best man irrespective of what the US has done."

Meanwhile, the long-serving Prestwick professional Frank Rennie was given the John Panton Award for services to golf at yesterday's gathering.