HONG KONG (PA) -- Colin Montgomerie admits he is keen to continue playing for at least another seven years to keep alive his hopes of winning a major. The 45-year-old from Scotland has come close on a number of occasions, but success has proved elusive.

Form is currently not on Montgomerie's side as he has failed to finish inside the top 20 in his last 10 tournaments and he has dropped to 118th in the world rankings. He's looking to improve that position this season starting this week in Hong Kong, where he earned his most recent victory in 2007.

"I'm outside the top 100 in the world for the first time ever," he said. "I've got to get back inside that top 100 in a hurry and then back inside the top 50 to compete on the world stage again.

"I'm exempt through to 2015 on (the European Tour), and I would intend to be playing golf until that stage," he added. "If I can get back in that top 50 and remain there for the next six years, I'll be very happy."

Montgomerie won the UBS Hong Kong Open in 2005 and the eight-time Order of Merit winner says it is a tournament he enjoys.

"I like the golf course," he said. "I'm not the longest hitter on Tour and, while I never was, I have control, and this is a course where you need control more than you need length or power. I prefer this type of golf nowadays.

"I like the Hong Kong Golf Club and I love the city," he added. "My wife is here with me and we're having a great time."

POULTER DRIVE: Ian Poulter has found a new Cobra driver that meets with his approval and will defend his title at the Dunlop Phoenix this week in Japan.

Poulter, whose driver was stolen in China two weeks ago, raised some eyebrows when he pulled out of last week's Barclays Singapore Open rather than risk a poor performance with a new driver that he was not comfortable using.

He arrived at Miyazaki City on the southern tip of Japan on Saturday, and immediately set to work on finding a suitable driver. It didn't take him long, as he received his answer as soon as he walked through the front door at Phoenix Country Club.

"When I arrived in the clubhouse, they were putting my signed bag, shoes, cap and driver from last year in the showcase," he explained. "I asked them to give me the driver, changed the shaft and am now using the driver from the showcase. It is not the driver I used last year, but the same model.

"It is very difficult to find a driver you like," he said. "Maybe you have to test 20 before you find one you like."

DONALD BACK IN DECEMBER: England's Luke Donald is set to make his return from injury in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. The $6 million tournament will take place Dec. 4-7 at the Gary Player Country Club.

Donald hasn't played since injuring his left wrist during the final round of the U.S. Open in June and underwent surgery in August, ending his chances of making a third straight Ryder Cup appearance.

The 30-year-old replaces Anthony Kim in the 12-man field after the American withdrew with an ankle problem.

"Nov. 3 was 12 weeks from my surgery and I began hitting full shots again that day," Donald said. "I started with full wedges and every day since then I've been building up club by club. There's no pain, no soreness and everything feels very good.

"I absolutely believe I'll be ready. I wouldn't have entered unless I thought I was going to be," he added. "It might take a bit of adjusting mentally after being out for five months, I've never had a break from competitive golf for that long before. But I'm sure when I get out there, the competitive juices will start flowing again."

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