COLIN Montgomerie's desire to give something back to Scottish golf and encourage aspiring amateurs to make their mark on the game has persuaded the eight-time Order of Merit winner to get involved with the Scottish Golf Union and pass on advice to a new generation of golfers on how to make a successful transition to the professional scene.
A Scottish internationalist and Walker Cup player in the Eighties, Monty will meet up with members of the current team before the Home Internationals at Muirfield in September when he'll give the squad the benefit of his 20 years experience as the mo
st prolific British winner in European Tour history.
"I was once involved as a player with the SGU myself and know these lads need help," he said. "It's great that I can try and assist on the mental side of things by speaking to them about what they can expect when they become professionals. I want to help.
"Making that transition from top amateur to professional isn't easy – if it was, everyone would be doing it. I didn't find it easy myself. But I asked a lot of questions of players who were better than me. In a way, I'm surprised that more haven't asked me about that aspect of my life. There's always been a lot of golfers who swing the club better than I do, but can't get the ball round a course. There's more to it than just hitting long and straight."
Well aware he's one of only three Scots currently in the field for next week's Open at Birkdale, Montgomerie doesn't have a pat answer to explain the current shortcomings of Scottish golf. "If we knew the answer to that, we'd have ten Scots in the top 50," he replied. "There's a lot going on, it's just not happening right now."
Montgomerie, currently 14th in the European points list, knows there hasn't been a Ryder Cup without a Scot involved since 1937. The incentive for him to tee up in a ninth consecutive match at Valhalla has added intrigue as well as extra pressure to his performances this summer.
"I'm a Scot and, whether it's me or someone else, we want a Scot in the Ryder Cup team," he said. "As far as I'm aware, we've always had one in the modern era. We don't want that run to finish, which is another motivation for me to make the team."
As he gets older – he recently celebrated his 45th birthday – Monty isn't sure whether advancing years have brought a greater sense of patience to his own game. "I think, maybe, you sometimes press too much as you get older because you feel there may be less opportunity to succeed," he reflected. "That's when the problems can arise. But in France (where he was runner-up two weeks ago], I did play a patient game."
Playing with heavier irons which have restored confidence from tee to green, the Scot remains unconvinced about the merits of his putting after finishing with a brace of three-putts at the European Open.
"These are the killers when you've hit a good iron shot to seven or eight feet and don't hole them," he reflected. "It's a momentum killer, particularly when you're trying to make par. I've been chopping and changing (with putters] and don't really know where I am. That's not something I would recommend to anyone."
Montgomerie used a specially made broad gripped putter, which prevents him breaking his left wrist, as well as a regulation model on different days at the London Club last week. The Scot knows he has to settle on one or the other over the next 48 hours. "Even if it doesn't work for nine holes I have to stick with it," he added. "It's not the putter, it's the puttee."
After returning to form at the French Open, Montgomerie was disappointed with his weekend retreat at the European Open, though he would raise the point in his defence that the London Club favoured longer hitters. "Loch Lomond, on the other hand," he said, " is a second shot golf course. And my iron shots are as good as they've ever been. I'll have a chance if I can hole out."
A past Scottish Open champion, Monty's form over the early stagings of the event was second to none. He became less of a threat after the club built new greens. "So I have to find something (on those greens] I can feel confident with," he added. "There's been doubt in my mind. I'm neither confident nor enjoying (putting]. I need to enjoy picking the putter out of the bag and feel the confidence of holing a few."
The Scot doesn't feel he's putted to a truly notable standard since 2005 when he was runner-up in the Open and winner of the Dunhill Links. "With me, it's about confidence," he said.
"Once I hole a couple, then I'm okay. But if, say, I take nine putts over the opening four holes, then I'm on the back foot."
The full article contains 849 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
