Question:
Unfortunately I have to agree with you Dan, much as I would like to see Monty win a major (actually I think if he won one he would probably win 2). A good, no superb, day in the Ryder Cup equates to what? a 65 at Carnoustie? That would be a superb round of golf and Montgomerie already has had some superb rounds in the majors. What he need to win a major though is put 3 good rounds together with the poor to middling round that the winner nearly always seem to have. Unfortunately Monty just takes the poor round to heart to often and just doesn’t seem to be able to bounce back from it. Crispin Roche
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nope. Good, even outstanding play in the Ryder Cup has nothing to do with how any given golfer will perform in the majors. Monty played brilliantly at Valderama and a lot of people said he would win a major in 1998, which obviously he did not. Saying that he will win one next year because he played brilliantly at the Country Club has about the same validity as the 1997 comments. Does anyone else reckon that 2000 will be the year of at least one Monty major. The sheer mental brilliance that he showed during the Ryder Cup surpassed any other golfer. If he can putt as well as he did, particularly on the Saturday fourballs, then he should be unstoppable. — from Thomas Bell, http://www.uk-gamers.co.uk — Good Golf Dan RSG Roll Call http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/driscolld.htm
Response:
One thing is for certain – Monty will win a Major a lot sooner than either Duval and Mickleson!
If I were a betting man, I’d take your money on that one. -joseph
Response:
Well, I for one sure hope you are corrrect. He has come close a few times, but I am afraid he never will win one. He is not THAT keen to do it.
You’ve got it there. He isn’t "keen" to do it. He’s happy plugging away winning a half dozen tournaments a year now in Europe. But does Monty do things that run against his grain? No, he doesn’t. After he won his fifth straight Order of Merit he said he was going to concentrate on the majors because he had accomplished everything he could ever want on the European tour. The following year it looked like he actually meant it but after slow starts in two majors he seemed to lose interest in the tournaments that were actually HARD for him to win, that required him to do things a little differently than the usual "Monty" way. This year he didn’t even make a good pass at a major. Decent finishes all around, yes, but he never looked like a competitor. If Monty had some real spheres he would find a way to talk to the American press with the same aplomb that he uses when talking to his "home" press. Since it appears he will ever even contend in a British Open, it would benefit him to play some in the US and maybe even get rid of those half inch deep furrows in his brow on the rare occasions he deigns to speak to an American reporter. You folks in Europe love him because he’s a winner and he loves you. Here in America he looks a little yellow. That is one hundred percent his fault for not realizing that the "kind, honorable, gracious, generous, nicest guy you’ll ever meet" doesn’t come across when we ever see of him is a scowl and all we ever hear is some kind of sanctimonious prattle. With his swing and his putter and his poise he could win ten straight Order of Merit titles in Europe. But he won’t "win" an Order of Merit from Sergio Garcia or Jesper Parnevik, or perhaps even Lee Westwood, because they are going to play half time or even more in the US. Although the level of play in Europe is very good, winning in Europe obviously isn’t perfect practice for winning in America. I’d like to see him achieve his potential, but it’s my belief that the things he needs to do in order to achieve it run against his grain. The older and more comfortable he gets, the more he seems inclined to follow his grain. -joseph
Response:
Yes it gets more Sony WR Points (a BIG bias that’s wrong)
Exactly what is this BIG bias to which you continually refer? The bias that says that when there are more top players in an event then that event gets more points to award? If so, exactly what is wrong with that? If not, then what in the blazes is the BIG bias? Yes it has a stronger field – but – whilst the depth is obviously there in the USA, the Ryder Cup in recent years has shown that the Top Twelve in Europe is a match for the best of the USA Players. BUT – lets not get carried away with Brookline here!
It shows us something different than what the world rankings and the PGA tours are showing us. The format of the Ryder Cup is DECIDELY different from the vast majority of PGA tournaments, little surprise that the results may be different. Colin is Colin – I wish people would judge him on his ability to play the game of golf and not because he has a sour face when playing it!
Lord knows I have tried, but it is just entirely too tiring to watch the constant scowl, even when things are going well. I will give you that he is a great golfer, but I his countenance takes so much away from that.
Response:
Hi Joseph, I enjoy reading your post and with this one I’d like to interject on a few points…… You’ve got it there. He isn’t "keen" to do it. He’s happy plugging away winning a half dozen tournaments a year now in Europe. But does Monty do things that run against his grain? No, he doesn’t.
Very, very true….. After he won his fifth straight Order of Merit he said he was going to concentrate on the majors because he had accomplished everything he could ever want on the European tour.
He gives his all in the Majors but he also gives his all in the normal events – he is sheer class – some of his rounds this year have been on another planet to ANYONE in golf and I even include Tiger in the others – but – he hasn’t performed this year in the Majors but he didn’t stop trying. People don’t realise just how competitive he is and although I wish he would stop opening his mouth and telling people how well he’s playing (then fail to win0 I wish he’d come into a Major and say his confidence is low – He’d probably win! The following year it looked like he actually meant it but after slow starts in two majors he seemed to lose interest in the tournaments that were actually HARD for him to win, that required him to do things a little differently than the usual "Monty" way. Maybe…. This year he didn’t even make a good pass at a major. Decent finishes all around, yes, but he never looked like a competitor.
But then again the expectations were also on a lot of other "Top 100 Players" and they didn’t contend either. If Monty had some real spheres he would find a way to talk to the American press with the same aplomb that he uses when talking to his "home" press.
He gets very upset that what he says does get misinterpreted by the press – just to sell a story – it happens to many sportsment – the press give the public what they want and the American public generally want Monty to be the ‘Bad Guy’ – VERY SAD Since it appears he will ever even contend in a British Open, it would benefit him to play some in the US and maybe even get rid of those half inch deep furrows in his brow on the rare occasions he deigns to speak to an American reporter.
That I fear will never happen other than the odd evnt and the run uop to Majors. He doesn’t like to be away from home or his family – but – ask yourself that if you were continualy lambasted by ‘certain’ so called golf fan’s – would you spend the majority of your working life in such an environment? I wouldn’t….. You folks in Europe love him because he’s a winner and he loves you.
No – because we see a differnt Monty to what you guy’s think you see and what you are all told he is like…. Here in America he looks a little yellow. That is one hundred percent his fault for not realizing that the "kind, honorable, gracious, generous, nicest guy you’ll ever meet" doesn’t come across when we ever see of him is a scowl
I see why you feel that but is so far from the truth. His public image on the course sometimes makes even we British fans cringe – he is so intense – but he is a winner (your right) – and he is one of the NICEST people you could ever wish to meet. I’ve got to now him qite well this year and he isn’t what i expected – he is a real laugh – always smiling and good fun to talk with. I just wish IMG would send him on a "PR" course on ‘how to act on the course’ – BUT – If he did a Sergio and showed delight when he did something great it maight help but then the knockers would say he was arrogant. Can’t see how he can win with the US public. and all we ever hear is some kind of sanctimonious prattle.
That isn’t quite right – he’s very honest and very intelligent – he needs a PR manager I think? With his swing and his putter and his poise he could win ten straight Order of Merit titles in Europe. But he won’t "win" an Order of Merit from Sergio Garcia or Jesper Parnevik, maybe – maybe not? or perhaps even Lee Westwood, because they are going to play half time or even more in the US.
Not true with Lee – he’s like Colin – he will play a few in the States but not many (fact). Lee loves his home, family and Nottingham Forset football club too much to spend more than the required time in the USA. Why should he anyway. He already earns millions a year from golf. He’s 5 in the World – even playing in Europe and in spite of the bias on the Sony WR Points system. Eurpean golf will centree around Monty, Lee, Darren and Co for many years to come. You know, Lee is a great kid but like Colin – he continually gets the shouts from the crowds – at the PGA (when playing with Tiger) there were insidents on every hole with calls like "Shank IT" in the middle of his swing – sveeral times with the latter. Again, would you spend more than the required time in such an environment? I wouldn’t! Although the level of play in Europe is very good, winning in Europe obviously isn’t perfect practice for winning in America.
Why is the USA scene so special? Yes it has more cash. Yes it gets more Sony WR Points (a BIG bias that’s wrong) Yes it has a stronger field – but – whilst the depth is obviously there in the USA, the Ryder Cup in recent years has shown that the Top Twelve in Europe is a match for the best of the USA Players. BUT – lets not get carried away with Brookline here! I’d like to see him achieve his potential,
So would I and your the first USA person who I have heard say that! Your thoughts are obviously based on more than superficial glances at Colin on TV. but it’s my belief that the things he needs to do in order to achieve it run against his grain.
A lot of mitigating things – as above – some of which affect people in different ways. After all, Colin is just human!!!!!! (even though he is a Scot;)) The older and more comfortable he gets, the more he seems inclined to follow his grain.
Colin is Colin – I wish people would judge him on his ability to play the game of golf and not because he has a sour face when playing it! You know, Butch Harmon said on TV at the RYDER CUP that Colin is the 2nd Best Golfer in The World!! – no guessing who the first is in Butch’s mind?? Regards, Harry. -joseph
– Harry Douthwaite
Response:
He certainly seems to have the game. Out of curiosity, how old is he? Is Monty in his thirties? Hard to tell.
I believe he’s 36; though he looks almost ten years older than that to me 
— Mohit Web: http://www.mcconcept.com
Response:
He certainly seems to have the game. Out of curiosity, how old is he? Is Monty in his thirties? Hard to tell. Art Wakefield
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone else reckon that 2000 will be the year of at least one Monty major. The sheer mental brilliance that he showed during the Ryder Cup surpassed any other golfer. If he can putt as well as he did, particularly on the Saturday fourballs, then he should be unstoppable. — from Thomas Bell, http://www.uk-gamers.co.uk
Response:
One thing is for certain – Monty will win a Major a lot sooner than either Duval and Mickleson!
What are the odds and were can I place my bet…
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I for one sure hope you are corrrect. He has come close a few times, but I am afraid he never will win one. He is not THAT keen to do it. You’ve got it there. He isn’t "keen" to do it. He’s happy plugging away winning a half dozen tournaments a year now in Europe. But does Monty do things that run against his grain? No, he doesn’t. After he won his fifth straight Order of Merit he said he was going to concentrate on the majors because he had accomplished everything he could ever want on the European tour. The following year it looked like he actually meant it but after slow starts in two majors he seemed to lose interest in the tournaments that were actually HARD for him to win, that required him to do things a little differently than the usual "Monty" way. This year he didn’t even make a good pass at a major. Decent finishes all around, yes, but he never looked like a competitor. If Monty had some real spheres he would find a way to talk to the American press with the same aplomb that he uses when talking to his "home" press. Since it appears he will ever even contend in a British Open, it would benefit him to play some in the US and maybe even get rid of those half inch deep furrows in his brow on the rare occasions he deigns to speak to an American reporter. You folks in Europe love him because he’s a winner and he loves you. Here in America he looks a little yellow. That is one hundred percent his fault for not realizing that the "kind, honorable, gracious, generous, nicest guy you’ll ever meet" doesn’t come across when we ever see of him is a scowl and all we ever hear is some kind of sanctimonious prattle. With his swing and his putter and his poise he could win ten straight Order of Merit titles in Europe. But he won’t "win" an Order of Merit from Sergio Garcia or Jesper Parnevik, or perhaps even Lee Westwood, because they are going to play half time or even more in the US. Although the level of play in Europe is very good, winning in Europe obviously isn’t perfect practice for winning in America. I’d like to see him achieve his potential, but it’s my belief that the things he needs to do in order to achieve it run against his grain. The older and more comfortable he gets, the more he seems inclined to follow his grain. -joseph
That is the most accurate analysis of Monty that I have ever heard… Well done Joseph…
Response:
A good, no superb, day in the Ryder Cup equates to what? a 65 at Carnoustie? That would be a superb round of golf and Montgomerie already has had some superb rounds in the majors. What he need to win a major though is put 3 good rounds together with the poor to middling round that the winner nearly always seem to have. Unfortunately Monty just takes the poor round to heart to often and just doesn’t seem to be able to bounce back from it.
You would never, for example, hear two-time major winner Tiger Woods say after just barely making the cut at a major, "Well, I just didn’t play well enough and I think I’m out of it." Instead, on Sunday at Carnoustie, when asked did he think there was a good score out there, he said (to paraphrase) "Definitely, I think there’s a 65 out there and I’ve got to go shoot it." He didn’t, of course, but he never gave up, especially not halfway through. In a way it’s too bad he didn’t give up and play for position, because he (and a couple of other players who started out well) would very likely have won! -joseph
Response:
Nope. Good, even outstanding play in the Ryder Cup has nothing to do with how any given golfer will perform in the majors. Monty played brilliantly at Valderama and a lot of people said he would win a major in 1998, which obviously he did not. Saying that he will win one next year because he played brilliantly at the Country Club has about the same validity as the 1997 comments. One thing is for certain – Monty will win a Major a lot sooner than either Duval and Mickleson!
I’m not sure about that. Both Duval and Mickelson have the ability to take a big enough lead going into the final day that they wont crack under final day nerves (which certainly seems to be the case for Mickelson). Of the two though I think Duval will win a major first. He just needs to start playing out of his comfort zone (as Faldo recently put it) probably by learning to win abroad. Crispin Roche
Response:
Well, I for one sure hope you are corrrect. He has come close a few times, but I am afraid he never will win one. He is not THAT keen to do it. If 3 of the 4 majors were played in Europe, you bet he would, but with 3 of 4 in the US, and Monty thinking it’s not worth it to play more in the US just to give himself more chances, well, I don’t think he will….. Jonas….he loves his family – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone else reckon that 2000 will be the year of at least one Monty major. The sheer mental brilliance that he showed during the Ryder Cup surpassed any other golfer. If he can putt as well as he did, particularly on the Saturday fourballs, then he should be unstoppable. — from Thomas Bell, http://www.uk-gamers.co.uk
Response:
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised it he won all four. I also wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he missed four cuts. I do think that, if he gets the monkey off his back, he’ll win a bunch. — http://home.midsouth.rr.com/joecartpath RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/reedj.htm
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone else reckon that 2000 will be the year of at least one Monty major. The sheer mental brilliance that he showed during the Ryder Cup surpassed any other golfer. If he can putt as well as he did, particularly on the Saturday fourballs, then he should be unstoppable. — from Thomas Bell, http://www.uk-gamers.co.uk
Response:
Nope. Good, even outstanding play in the Ryder Cup has nothing to do with how any given golfer will perform in the majors. Monty played brilliantly at Valderama and a lot of people said he would win a major in 1998, which obviously he did not. Saying that he will win one next year because he played brilliantly at the Country Club has about the same validity as the 1997 comments.
One thing is for certain – Monty will win a Major a lot sooner than either Duval and Mickleson! Does anyone else reckon that 2000 will be the year of at least one Monty major. The sheer mental brilliance that he showed during the Ryder Cup surpassed any other golfer. If he can putt as well as he did, particularly on the Saturday fourballs, then he should be unstoppable. — from Thomas Bell, http://www.uk-gamers.co.uk
– Harry Douthwaite
Response:
Rem, He has the game, and at least in team copetitions he has the heart. But he still has not shown that he has what it takes to win a major. Don’t get me wrong, while I am not a fan of Monty, I will be the first to admit he plays great golf. But that does not necessarily make him a great golfer. Until he wins a major he can’t be considered ‘great’, just very good. And my opinion will not change even if he does come to the US and start tearing it up here. The fact is that until he has at least one major on his resume his career has a flaw. This has nothing to do with Monty personally, I feel the same way about Mickelson, Duval and all other well known players who have not or did not win majors. Still, Dan, it’s only a matter of time before he wins one. Then again, I have been saying this since the 1992 US Open. Remsleep (who has picked Monty in every major except The Open in Jim Carson’s Crazy Eights pool)
– Good Golf Dan RSG Roll Call http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/driscolld.htm
Response:
Still, Dan, it’s only a matter of time before he wins one. Then again, I have been saying this since the 1992 US Open. Remsleep (who has picked Monty in every major except The Open in Jim Carson’s Crazy Eights pool)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nope. Good, even outstanding play in the Ryder Cup has nothing to do with how any given golfer will perform in the majors. Monty played brilliantly at Valderama and a lot of people said he would win a major in 1998, which obviously he did not. Saying that he will win one next year because he played brilliantly at the Country Club has about the same validity as the 1997 comments.
Response:
Does anyone else reckon that 2000 will be the year of at least one Monty major. The sheer mental brilliance that he showed during the Ryder Cup surpassed any other golfer. If he can putt as well as he did, particularly on the Saturday fourballs, then he should be unstoppable. — from Thomas Bell, http://www.uk-gamers.co.uk
Response:
Nope. Good, even outstanding play in the Ryder Cup has nothing to do with how any given golfer will perform in the majors. Monty played brilliantly at Valderama and a lot of people said he would win a major in 1998, which obviously he did not. Saying that he will win one next year because he played brilliantly at the Country Club has about the same validity as the 1997 comments. Does anyone else reckon that 2000 will be the year of at least one Monty major. The sheer mental brilliance that he showed during the Ryder Cup surpassed any other golfer. If he can putt as well as he did, particularly on the Saturday fourballs, then he should be unstoppable. — from Thomas Bell, http://www.uk-gamers.co.uk
– Good Golf Dan RSG Roll Call http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/driscolld.htm