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 | | | | | | Quick Facts | | | Birthdate: 23 June 1963 | | Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland | | | Age: 39 Ht: 6ft 1in (185cm) Wt: 14st (90kg) | | | Home: Oxshott, Surrey, UK | | | Country: Scotland | | | Turned Professional: 1987 (plus 3) | | | |
| Ryder Cup | | | (5) 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 | | European Tour Victories | | |
(26) 1989 Portuguese Open TPC; 1991 Scandinavian Masters; 1993 Heineken Dutch Open, Volvo Masters; 1994 Peugeot Open de España, Murphy's English Open, Volvo German Open; 1995 Volvo German Open, Trophée Lancôme; 1996 Dubai Desert Classic, Murphy's Irish Open, Canon European Masters; 1997 Compaq European Grand Prix, Murphy's Irish Open; 1998 Volvo PGA Championship, One 2 One British Masters, Linde German Masters; 1999 Benson and Hedges International Open, Volvo PGA Championship, Standard Life Loch Lomond, Volvo Scandinavian Masters, BMW International Open, Cisco World Match Play Championship* (*approved special event); 2000 Novotel Perrier Open de France, Volvo PGA Championship; 2001 Murphy's Irish Open, Volvo Scandinavian Masters
| | Player Notes | |
If there was one incident which sums up why Colin Montgomerie is such a vital component in Europe's Ryder Cup team, it came during the final day of the last contest at Brookline in 1999.
With Europe's challenge wilting, the dogged Scot stood resolute in the face of pressure, both on and off the course, to defeat the late Payne Stewart on the final green. In the end it did not matter in terms of the overall result, but try telling that to Colin Stuart Montgomerie MBE. To him everything to do with The Ryder Cup matters - deeply.
First indication of such determination came during his debut at Kiawah Island in 1991. Four down to Mark Calcavecchia with only four to play, Montgomerie could have been forgiven for slipping away quietly, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Sparkling golf, including a pitch-in from a bunker at the 16th, unsettled the American and the Scot won all four of the closing holes to grab a memorable half.
Again it was not quite enough to help Europe to overall victory but Montgomerie did not have long to wait to put that statistic right. At 1995 at Oak Hill, the seven time Volvo Order of Merit winner put paid to Ben Crenshaw by 3 and 1 on the final day as Europe recorded only their second victory on US soil, before enjoying his greatest Ryder Cup moment at Valderrama two years later.
With 14 points on the board, Europe could not lose the trophy but could they win it? In that situation, on what better shoulders to rest your hopes than Montgomerie's?
The Scot split the final fairway with an eye-of-the-needle tee-shot on one of the toughest driving holes on the course. It was the stroke of a true champion and he quickly followed it with another, an arrow-straight approach to 20 feet to which opponent Scott Hoch, unable to make the green in two, had no answer. The American's pitch to 15 feet was hardly enough to have Montgomerie shaking in his boots and he proceeded to putt up stone dead.
Then, backed by captain Severiano Ballesteros, Montgomerie walked across to Hoch to concede the half. It was a fitting sporting gesture to end a perfect sporting occasion, one which also saw the Scot finish the contest as top points scorer of the 24 players on show.
From rookie in 1991, Montgomerie graduated to senior figure at Brookline, assuming the mantle of the oldest player in the team, taking debutant Paul Lawrie under his wing and striking up a highly effective partnership which yielded two and a half points out of four.
It is likely Montgomerie will be asked to perform a similar role this year with another of the Ryder Cup newcomers and it will be one he relishes in a bid to extend his already impressive record which reads 12 wins and four half points from 23 ties.
Victories in the 2001 Murphy's Irish Open and the Volvo Scandinavian Masters, set Montgomerie up superbly for the tilt at the Americans in 2001, and it is ironic to think back to the early part of that season when, suffering from a slight dip in form, there was some talk of him not even making the team.
The Ryder Cup without Colin Montgomerie? The idea does not bear thinking about.
Background
Finally surrendered his Volvo Order of Merit crown to Lee Westwood after an unprecedented seven successive titles - a record which might never be surpassed. Received unstinting praise for his leadership qualities on and off the golf course at the 1999 Ryder Cup, in which he accrued three and a half points. Beat the late Payne Stewart on the last green to maintain his unbeaten record in five Ryder Cup singles. Born in Scotland, raised in Yorkshire where father, James, was a company director. Attended Houston Baptist University. Father retired as Royal Troon secretary in 1997. Lost out in play-off for 1994 US Open, and runner-up again to Ernie Els in 1997. Also defeated in sudden death by Steve Elkington for the US PGA title in 1995. Attended investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November 1998 to receive MBE from Her Majesty The Queen. Won six times in 1999 and twice in 2000, making a superb defence of his Cisco World Match Play title before being edged out by Westwood at the 38th hole of the final. Won the Ercisson Masters at the start of the year to capture his first title Down Under. Returned to winning ways in emphatic style when he claimed his 25th European Tour title in the Murphy's Irish Open at Fota Island Golf Club and followed that with victory in the Volvo Scandinavian Masters, winning the title for an unprecedented third time.
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| W - L - T | Points | | 4 - 0 - 1 | 4.5 |
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Colin Montgomerie
