Executive Golf Magazine

Colin Montgomerie goes into the second half of the year with a new wife and the prospect of another Ryder Cup appearance. Roderick Easdale has been to meet him

If, 20 years ago, Colin Montgomerie’s job interview had not gone awry he might never have become a professional golfer. “At 24 I wanted to turn professional, but there was a small voice inside my head saying that I might do better to use my degree to find a golf-related job,” he says. “The most coveted in the business were those with IMG, so I applied for a job as a client manager there. The interview was held at Turnberry over a few holes of golf. After nine holes, I was seven under par. Instead of offering me a job, they asked to work for me.”

Whereas Tiger Woods had his first hole-in-one not long after leaving the womb, or something like that, Montgomerie was a comparatively late developer. He was 14 before he broke 100 and at 18 - in other words, a year older than Justin Rose was when coming fourth in the Open - his handicap was six.

Was this why he was initially reluctant to become a pro golfer? Or was it simply that he didn’t fancy the lifestyle of a tour golfer?
“Oh no, I knew I’d love the life of a professional – playing the sport I loved as my career was a dream for me throughout my amateur days. However, professional sport as a career can be a gamble and very few make it.”

As PG Wodehouse once wrote, it is never difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine, and Monty does not always have the air of someone loving life. So has the life of a pro golfer been as fun as he had hoped? “No, it hasn’t! It’s been more fun - I can’t believe I’ve had such a long career and I really do still love it. I think I will be playing on the Tour for a good few years yet!”

What does this man who often seems not at ease with himself dislike most about himself? “My putting,” he laughs by way of an answer. And by way of not giving an answer. “But my best quality is my competitiveness. I really enjoy competing and I genuinely tee up at every tournament believing I can win.”

He is in no mood for introspection at this moment, not this happily re-married man. In April, in full Highland dress, he wedded Gaynor Knowles at Loch Lomond. More than 300 guests, including Jodie Kidd, Alan Hansen, Ally McCoist and Peter Alliss, attended the celebrations which included a golf tournament on the morning of the ceremony. He had been introduced to his future wife by television commentator Dougie Donnelly in 2005 at Gleneagles’ Strathearn restaurant. In the same restaurant, last August, Monty proposed to Gaynor.

His life, which in the past few years has seen the disintegration both his first marriage and his playing form, has clearly taken a turn for the better. Well off the course, at least, as a happy home life has been easier to rediscover than his touch on the greens. But there is still one deep, lingering sadness which is unavoidably at the forefront of his mind. “My biggest regret in life is my mum not witnessing my successful career.”

“I would be absolutely delighted to be invited to captain the European Ryder Cup team at some point. Hopefully I’ll have a couple more playing opportunities first though”

His mother died in 1991 of lung cancer and he is currently working to raise funds for the Elizabeth Montgomerie Centre, a lung cancer facility in Glasgow dedicated to her memory. Family has always had a strong pull on him. His father became managing director of Fox’s Biscuits of Batley, which is why this proud Scottish golfer speaks with an English accent. Although Glaswegian by birth, he was raised in Yorkshire where he attended Leeds Grammar School, supported Leeds United and played golf at Ilkley Golf Club. Later his father became secretary of Royal Troon in Scotland. “Setting out, I was very lucky to have my family supporting me, both in my decision to try professional golf and financially.”

Does he find it hard being a public figure? “I think the good outweighs the bad for sure. I have enjoyed so much support throughout my career.”

If there is one thing above all that has cemented the golfing public’s affection for him, it is his colossal record at the Ryder Cup. “I really enjoy the whole atmosphere of the week; the camaraderie of the European team, the tactics, my transition from rookie to older statesman, even the nerves on the first tee. It has consistently been the most important event to me throughout my career.”

This is a telling comment from a man who was criticised not so long ago by Nick Faldo as not being a team man. He made the remark after captaining the Great Britain & Ireland team to victory in the Seve Trophy. It was a win which maintained their dominance of the event having won three of the previous four trophies as well. The GB&I captain for these previous victories was, of course, Monty himself.

Monty is not famed for mixing with others on the tour as he freely admits. “I do socialise at the start of the week with my peers, but I tend not to socialise too much during the actual tournament. Having my manager, Guy Kinnings, as well as my caddie and coach it often means there is already a good sized group for dinner.”

So how did he find captaining a team in what is, by most standards, a highly individualistic sport in the first place. “I really enjoyed the years I was captain in the Seve Trophy and I think I picked up some valuable captaining experience.

“All the Ryder Cup captains I have played for have been good in their own individual ways and I wouldn’t want to single one out. But I think I have picked up some valuable tips from each of them. I would be absolutely delighted to be invited to captain the European Ryder Cup team at some point. Hopefully I’ll have a couple more playing opportunities first though.”

On the subject of looking ahead, will he move on to the Seniors Tours in time? “I don’t think so, no. I have an ever-expanding business with my course designs and golf academies and I think I will focus on that side of things and perhaps do some more media work.”

And on the subject of looking ahead to looking back, what if this five-times runner-up doesn’t ever snaffle that elusive major? “If I don’t win a major before I retire it won’t keep me awake at night as I have had a wonderful career. I will look back and think I have been pretty lucky to have won a record seven Orders of Merit in succession and a very special eighth Order of Merit six years later. I feel pretty fortunate, all in all.”

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