CONTRARY to the records at Somerset House, Colin Montgomerie can boast three marriages – two to wives and one to controversy. The big Scot's seemingly inseparable attachment to headline-making – either as progenitor or unwitting subject – has made him, over the past two decades, a figure of constant interest, his volatility made all the more intriguing by a virtuosity that brought a record eight European Order of Merit titles and, at one point, took him to No 2 in the world rankings.
His status as a sportsman of authentic world class should also have made him a magnet for any aspirant professional golfers, especially in his own country. Instead, his willingness to mentor any young player seeking guidance appears, by and large,
to have been spurned.
It is a situation that has clearly disappointed him, as he confirmed in conversation at Loch Lomond yesterday, on the eve of his latest attempt to add another Barclays Scottish Open to the one he landed in 1999.
Following the news that the venerable coach, Bob Torrance, had accused his former protégé, Marc Warren, of a bad attitude – more interested in buying flash cars and property than working hard on improving his game – Montgomerie was asked if a lazy approach was an indigenous, and alarming, flaw in today's Scottish golfers.
It was the kind of issue that might have produced another back-page lead in most newspapers. Instead, Montgomerie seemed more saddened than inflamed by the possibility that so few Scots – at the moment, a paltry four – will compete in next week's Open championship at Birkdale because of an aversion to the necessary work ethic.
"I didn't actually read what Bob Torrance had to say about Marc, but I was told about them," he said. "Sometimes, when a coach and a player split, it's not that amicable," he said. "But at the same time, I have a lot of respect for Marc Warren, who was my partner when we won the World Cup in China last year.
"I have to say he was the strength of our team that week. Marc was brilliant in China. I can't comment on his practice regime and I don't wish to. But for the younger guys, I would encourage them to practise hard. And I think, in general, they do. Nowadays, they have nutritionists, mind people, fitness gurus and all the other stuff and I think they are practising and the standard is getting better.
"If you look at young Ross Fisher winning the European Open with 20-under par last week, that's a fantastic performance from somebody who you could almost call a rookie. But it reminded me that, on the first practice round he had on the European Tour, he asked me to accompany him.
"It was at the Scandinavian Masters a couple of years ago and I thought, that's good, that's the sort of thing I would have done. You know, to play with somebody he could probably learn a couple of things from. We had a good practice round and it was great to see him in the winner's circle.
"As I've always said, I'm here to help anybody. But giving an opportunity to people is one thing; for them to take it is another. I hope Marc Warren gets back to form because he's better than he's showing now. He's a real talent and let's hope these comments don't hurt him in any way and he proves to be the player he was over at that Mission Hills World Cup."
Montgomerie himself has to prove he can still be the player he was. At 45, he has, in the past two seasons, looked at times to be irretrievably in decline, but in recent weeks has undergone a resurgence that offers the hope of his own return to the winner's circle.
And whatever effect his apparent decline has had, it has not undone his conviction that he will be a member of the Ryder Cup team once again at Valhalla, in Kentucky, in September. This became clear when he was asked if his appearance or non-appearance at this year's event would suggest when he might become Europe's team captain.
"Oh, even if I don't perform in the Ryder Cup this year – which I believe I will – there's a particular place I think I might well be captain for, and I think it's pretty obvious. I will do my utmost to play this year, then again in 2010 and possibly 2012 and then, in 2014, do something else."
It is in six years' time that the great match will be held at Gleneagles, a natural venue for the big Scot to make his debut as captain.
The full article contains 791 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
