UPDATE 1-Golf-Monty pulls out of U.S. Open qualifying

(recasts after Montgomerie withdrawal)

By Tony Jimenez

VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 24 (Reuters) - Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has pulled out of U.S. Open international qualifying at Walton Heath on Monday.

"The European Open (next week) and the Wales Open (the week after) are two more huge tournaments and in order to ensure I am fully prepared ... I have decided to withdraw," he said in a news release at the PGA Championship on Sunday.

Montgomerie has missed only one U.S. Open since making his debut in the championship in 1992.

Former Ryder Cup players Paul McGinley, David Howell, Thomas Levet and Niclas Fasth will feature in the 36-hole Walton Heath event along with Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano who is riding high in ninth place on the inaugural Race to Dubai money-list.

(Editing by Ed Osmond, To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)