Colin Montgomerie

Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE (born 23 June 1963) is a Scottish professional golfer often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31 European tour victories, placing him third on the all time list.

He is renowned also for both his extraordinary Ryder Cup performances as well as the dubious distinction of being one of the most accomplished players never to have won a major championship after finishing runner-up on five occasions. His career high world ranking is second.

Although Scottish by birth and ethnicity, he was raised in Yorkshire, England, where his father James was Managing Director of Fox's Biscuits. Montgomerie spent a number of years at the Ilkley Golf Club where he was tutored by the past professional Bill Ferguson. He was educated at both Leeds Grammar School and Strathallan School, Perthshire.

During his time in Leeds, he became a supporter of Leeds United. His father would later become the secretary of Royal Troon Golf Club, one of Scotland's most famous clubs. Montgomerie became one of the first British golfers to go to a United States college, attending Houston Baptist University. In later years, many top young British golfers (e.g., Luke Donald) would follow Monty's path to United States universities.

He won three important Scottish amateur tournaments - the 1983 Scottish Youths Championship, the 1985 Scottish Stroke Play Championship, and the 1987 Scottish Amateur Championship. He also played for Scotland twice in the Eisenhower Trophy (1984 and 1986) and for Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup twice (1985 and 1987).

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 spent almost 400 weeks in the top-10. His highest ranking was number two.

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. 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.

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 1990s Montgomerie had several close shaves. A third place at the 1992 U.S. Open would trigger several good performances in the event over the coming years. Indeed, it is at the U.S. Open where Montgomerie has certainly come closest to breaking his major duck. He lost in a three-man playoff to Ernie Els in 1994 at Oakmont (a playoff which also included Loren Roberts). Famously Montgomerie was left with only one shirt to play in during the Monday playoff, 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 three years later at Congressional Golf Club. Montgomerie's 65 in the opening round is considered to be one of the finest rounds in U.S. Open history, but a 76 in the second round brought him back to the field. A bogey on the 71st hole sent Montgomerie 1 behind Els who parred the last to win.

It is at the 2006 U.S. 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 three-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 PGA Championship, Montgomerie birdied the last three holes of the Riviera course in the final round to tie Elkington at 17 under par. In the playoff 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 five shots.