HE'S DONE it again, Colin Montgomerie. Enticed and allured us, a temptress in the guise of a middle-aged man in waterproofs. While it might not sound appealing there is little that could have delighted the galleries more than seeing the Scot make at least a bid for the title here on Merseyside.
His 73 yesterday was his third in successive first rounds at the Open Championship. But the one posted yesterday was distinguished from the other two by the circumstances in which it was made. His 73s at Royal Hoylake and Carnoustie had him out of th
e running before night-fall on the first day. Yesterday the same score represented something very different.
As well as make the leaderboard pleasant reading it also had a positive effect on the man himself. Hardly a peep has been heard from Monty since he checked into his plush Formby hotel at the start of the week. Yesterday he was one of the merriest things on Merseyside. He was so buoyant they could have entered him into the Tall Ships race being held in Liverpool this weekend. And he even had the appetite for some mild blasphemy.
"I don't think any of us have ever worked as hard as out there," he said. "It's very, very difficult. The course is very fair but unfortunately He is in charge and He messed up today."
It was good stuff. Monty even knew that himself, and walked away having delivered the last killer-line with a look which said 'that's not half bad after a gruelling five-and-a-half hour round' written all over his face.
Apparently his post-tournament silence had been because no-one asked to speak to him. He wanted us to believe he had been hurt by the rejection. "They've been asking other people. I will answer any questions if asked," he said, in apparent total seriousness.
It is something someone will need to remind him he said when he comes out today and plays like one of the many drains that were overflowing yesterday. During this first round Monty was everything he wanted to be, from the moment he saved par at the first hole with a putt that was hit with force into the hole from 15 feet. "I had worked hard on the putting and so to actually hole one at the first hole in miserable conditions – that was encouraging," said Montgomerie. Just as satisfying was a birdie at the par-3 fourth.
He even recovered from a double bogey at the 10th after having driven out of bounds. Montgomerie went from the 11th tee to the clubhouse in one under par, which, when the flailing of others is taken into account, proved a significant boon to his chances of doing something this weekend. "73 today is safe," he acknowledged. "It's not great, it's not wonderful. But it's enough. It's not a 76 or a 77, which leaves you feeling a bit out of things. 73 is well in touch." Montgomerie's group – made-up by Boo Weekley and Mike Weir, who posted a superb 71 – had gone out in the worst of the conditions.
The Scot even cut shot his pre-round practice session because it was "a waste of time". Had somebody offered him a 73 on the first tee he would have taken it, he assured us. So would those watching him. Then we could all have headed for cover.
It was dreich, as Weekley, our friend from the Florida panhandle, might not have put it. Having just become a father again Weekley could be excused his round of 10 over par. Little had been expected of Montgomerie, too. Most who followed him did so out of loyalty and crazy hope.
You're only here because of me, he recently growled at a sound man. And, yes, it was true. Against our better judgment we were here in the storm for Monty. Obligated, almost. The battier ones had got themselves made up for the occasion. The Monty wigs were in attendance. Some came in just tee-shirts, across which was written Monty Maniacs – though it was hard to tell.
The incessant rain had made the ink run. But the Scot appreciated the support, and also clocked the band of Boo fans. At one hole three lads made their way forward in tee-shirts which spelt-out OBO. It took a few confused seconds to work-out one had broken rank. Along one fairway Weekely was given a beer can salute by another gathering.
"He had his support there and I had my Monty supporters," said Montgomerie later. "He has his own fan club – I wanted to join them. They were having a beer and having a better time than we were, I can tell you." The Scot's determined performance helped spear the notion he was not 'up for it' at Birkdale. Some comments he himself had made earlier in the week hinted at a man who had reached the end of his tether.
But even in dark moments there is something he can glimpse in the gloom – his cherished dream of a ninth Ryder Cup appearance.
The ideal combination would be an Open win and a Ryder Cup call-up, and a triumph on the scale of a major title might indeed be required if he is to make Nick Faldo's team. For now, both dreams remain alive.
The full article contains 906 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
