Colin Montgomerie has picked a good time to end a long victory drought with the British Open just around the corner.
Monty ended 19 months without a title when he triumphed at the European Open at the K Club in Ireland, edging Sweden’s Niclas Fasth by one stroke.
While the victory was sweet for the golfer and his fans, they would probably trade all his 31 European Tour titles for a single Major.
Being weighed down by the “best golfer never to have won a Major†tag can be frustrating and annoying, in addition to feeling a sense of emptiness when it comes to looking back on one’s career.
Thankfully for Monty, despite being 44, there is still much to look forward to after his five-under-par 65 gave him a total of 11-under 269 and his first win since the Hong Kong Open in December, 2005.
Fasth, whose final round was interrupted by bad weather, closed with a 67 as Monty pulled off a series of monster putts to aid his victory charge.
Four golfers tied for third on 271 – Swedes Pelle Edberg and Peter Hanson, Frenchman Gregory Havret and England’s Anthony Wall.
For Monty, victory means edging ahead of six-time Major winner Nick Faldo in tournament titles. The Scot said on the Tour’s website:
“After nearly two years of a dry spell it’s great to be back, you wonder if it’s ever going to happen again. I’m now one win above Nick Faldo, someone I have admired for many, many years.â€
On the PGA Tour, KJ Choi won his sixth title with victory at the AT&T National in Bethesda.
It was his second triumph in five weeks and the South Korean received his trophy from Tiger Woods, who finished tied for sixth at his own event at two under.
During the recent Memorial tournament, Choi received the winner’s trophy from his childhood hero, Jack Nicklaus.
Choi, who was cheered on by a large group of Korean supporters as she closed with 68 for a nine-under total of 271, said on the PGA Tour website:
“One thing I can say this week’s trophy is a lot heavier than Jack’s trophy, if that means anything. But just winning both events, all I can say is that I have a lot of respect for both players, and to be able to win in their tournaments is just – I can’t even express in words.â€
It was the re-introduction of the ‘Belly Putter’ that did it for Monty….plus a massive slice of luck on his last two shots to the 17th and 18th greens.
Mark Roe, recently retired PGA Pro, suggested last week, after Monty was in close contention in Paris until his putting let him down, that he make a swift return to the old BP. Monty listened and did so…with a fantastic result.
Perhaps now he is ready to claim the Big One in Golf, as he almost did at St Andrews, in 2005. If he does, watch out World !!