Who is Colin Montgomerie

Montgomerie turned professional in 1988, and was named the Rookie of the Year on the European Tour that season. He quickly developed into one of Europe's top pros, winning his first event at the 1989 Portuguese Open by 8 shots and making his Ryder Cup debut in 1991. He finished first on the European Tour Order of Merit every year from 1993 to 1999 (a record for most consecutive Orders of Merit) and has thirty one victories on the tour, including the 1998, 1999, and 2000 European PGA Championships. He first reached the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings in 1994 and was ranked number 2 at his peak. In his prime Montgomerie was considered one of the best drivers of the golf ball in the world and became a very precise iron player, often able to judge the distance he hit the ball exactly from long range.

His form fell away gradually in the new millennium, partly due to marriage problems, and his ranking slumped to 82nd in the world, but he came back strongly in 2005, winning a record eighth European Tour Order of Merit and returning to the top ten in the World Rankings. Late in 2005 he became the first man to win 20 million Euros on the European Tour - topping the European Tour's all time highest earners list.

After re-forming his partnership with caddie Alastair McLean in 2004, the pair spilt again on 10 June, a week before the start of the U.S. Open. The reasons were claimed to have been brought to a head by his poor showing at the Austrian Open, and a third round 73 at the Welsh Open. With his new caddie Craig Connoly Montgomerie managed to win for the first time in nearly 2 years at the European Open in July 2007, silencing the critics who have asserted he would not win again.

At the end of 2004, Montgomerie was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours. He represents the Turnberry resort in Scotland, where there is a Colin Montgomerie Golf Academy.

Masters T8: 1998
U.S. Open 2nd/T2: 1994, 1997, 2006
British Open 2nd: 2005
PGA Championship 2nd: 1995

Montgomerie is generally considered to be one of the best golfers never to have won a major championship after finishing in second place on 5 separate occasions. During what most consider to be his best years in the 1990's Montgomerie had several close shaves. A third place at the 1992 US Open would trigger several good performances in the event over the coming years. Indeed, it is at the US Open where Montgomerie has certainly come closest to breaking his major duck. He lost in a 3- man play-off to Ernie Els in 1994 at Oakmont (a play-off which also included Loren Roberts). Famously Montgomerie was left with only one shirt to play in during the Monday play-off, a dark tartan design, which did not help his cause in the very hot playing conditions. He shot 78 to Els and Roberts 74, Els eventually winning at the 20th extra hole.

Ernie Els was once again to get the better of Montgomerie 3 years later at Congressional Golf Club. Montgomerie's 65 in the opening round is considered to be one of the finest rounds in US Open history, but a bogey on the 71st hole 3 rounds later sent Montgomerie 1 behind Els who parred the last to win.

It is at the 2006 US Open however where Montgomerie had his best chance to win his elusive first major. He stood in the middle of the 18th fairway in the final round having sunk a 50 foot birdie putt on the previous green which took him into the lead. During the wait on the 18th fairway for the group in front to finish Montgomerie switched his club from a six iron to a seven, assuming adrenaline would kick in. He hit a poor shot, coming up short and right into the thick rough. He pitched on and then 3 putted from 30 feet to lose the tournament by 1 stroke. After the loss, Montgomerie said, "At my age I've got to think positively. I'm 43 next week, and it's nice I can come back to this tournament and do well again, and I look forward to coming back here again next year and trying another U.S. Open disaster."

At the 1995 USPGA championship Montgomerie birdied the last 3 holes of the Riviera course in the final round to tie Elkington at 17 under par. In the play-off after hitting the better drive and second Montgomerie missed his putt where Elkington holed from 35 feet to pip him seemingly unfairly to the post.

Montgomerie has never performed well at the Masters tournament, his best finish being tied 8th in 1998. Some would say not surprisingly as great putting is not a strong feature of his game (this generally considered to be imperative in performing well at Augusta).

At the Open Championship it is only in recent years that Montgomerie has shown signs of competing at this championship. He started brightly in 2001 at Lytham and St Annes with an opening 65 and still remained ahead after 36 holes, but fell away over the weekend. He was also in contention with 2 rounds to play at Muirfield in 2002 and Troon 2004, but failed to capitalise and finished mid way down the field. His best finish in the Championship came in 2005 where he finished second to Tiger Woods, who beat him by 5 shots.

Montgomerie has often come under fire for his attitude on the golf course. He has throughout his career marshalled the galleries somewhat when they are unsettled where as other players tend to try and ignore restlessness in the crowds. This has certainly been evident when Montgomerie is not playing well and it could be said his lack of focus has led to continued poor play during that particular round. Despite this Montgomerie has become one of golfing public's most popular golfers, and remains the fan favourite at the Open Championship, especially when it is held in Scotland.

It is in America however where Montgomerie has endured major problems. Through the late 1990s and early millennium he was the main focus for hecklers on the golf course, often being deliberately put off by the American crowds. This started at the 1997 US Open where Montgomerie reacted to several drunken fans abuse after a rain delay. Since then he has been seen as an easy target, particularly in Ryder Cups, often with the nick name Mrs. Doubtfire. Over the past few years it seems that Montgomerie has won over the American crowds somewhat, perhaps out of respect to his excellent Ryder Cup performances.

Montgomerie's struggle to get on with the American galleries is often cited as perhaps the reason he has failed to match his success in Europe with success in the United States.

Montgomerie met his Scottish ex-wife Eimear Wilson, also from Troon, when he was a good amateur and she was a promotions assistant.

European Tour Order of Merit winner:
1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005

HILLANDGLEN