Colin Montgomerie Explained

Colin Montgomerie
OBE
Fullname:Colin Stuart Montgomerie
Nickname:Monty
Birth Date:23 June 1963
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Height:6 ft 1 in
Residence:Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland
Naples, Florida
Spouse:
    Children:3
    College:Houston Baptist University
    Yearpro:1987
    Tour:PGA Tour Champions
    European Senior Tour
    Extour:European Tour
    Prowins:54
    Eurowins:31 (4th all-time)
    Asiawins:2
    Auswins:1
    Champwins:7
    Seneurowins:9 (Tied-5th all-time)
    Otherwins:7
    Masters:T8: 1998
    Usopen:2nd/T2: 1994, 1997, 2006
    Open:2nd: 2005
    Pga:2nd: 1995
    Wghofid:colin-montgomerie
    Wghofyear:2013
    Award1:Sir Henry Cotton
    Rookie of the Year
    Year1:1988
    Award2:European Tour
    Order of Merit winner
    Year2:1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
    1997, 1998, 1999, 2005
    Award3:European Tour
    Golfer of the Year
    Year3:1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
    Award4:European Senior Tour
    Order of Merit winner
    Year4:2014, 2015

    Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE (born 23 June 1963) is a Scottish professional golfer. He has won a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutive from 1993 to 1999. He has won 31 European Tour events, the most of any British player, placing him fourth on the all-time list of golfers with most European Tour victories.

    Montgomerie won three consecutive Volvo PGA Championships at Wentworth Club between 1998 and 2000. He has finished runner-up on five occasions in major championships and his career-high world ranking is second.[1] He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013.[2]

    After turning 50 in 2013, Montgomerie has had a successful career on the PGA Tour Champions and European Senior Tour, including winning three senior major championships.

    Early life

    Although Scottish by birth and ancestry, he was raised in Yorkshire, England, where his father, James Montgomerie, was Managing Director of Fox's Biscuits.[3] He spent a number of years with the Ilkley Golf Club, where he was tutored by the past professional Bill Ferguson. He was educated at both Leeds Grammar School and Strathallan School, Perthshire. During his time in Leeds, he became a supporter of Leeds United.[4] His father later became the secretary of Royal Troon Golf Club, one of Scotland's most famous clubs.

    Amateur career

    Montgomerie became one of the first British golfers to go to a United States college, attending Houston Baptist University, where he played on the golf team and became its top player. He won three important Scottish amateur tournaments – the 1983 Scottish Youths Championship, the 1985 Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship and the 1987 Scottish Amateur Championship.

    He played for Great Britain and Ireland twice in the Eisenhower Trophy (1984 and 1986) and twice in the Walker Cup (1985 and 1987). He was also part of the Scottish team, winning the 1985 European Amateur Team Championship at Halmstad Golf Club, North Course, in Sweden. Before turning pro he considered a career in sports management, utilizing his degree in business management and law; the interview process included a golf outing that convinced the firm he should become a client rather than an employee.[5]

    Professional career

    Montgomerie turned professional before the 1988 season and was named the Rookie of the Year on the European Tour that year. He quickly developed into one of Europe's top pros, winning his first event at the 1989 Portuguese Open TPC by 11 shots, and his second, beating a world class field, at the 1991 Scandinavian Masters at Royal Drottningholm Golf Club in Sweden. He made his Ryder Cup debut later in 1991. He finished first on the European Tour Order of Merit every year from 1993 to 1999 (a record for most consecutive Orders of Merit), and has 31 victories on the tour, including the 1998, 1999, and 2000 Volvo PGA Championships at Wentworth, England. However, despite many near-misses, Montgomerie was unable to win on the PGA Tour.

    Montgomerie first reached the top-10 in the Official World Golf Rankings in 1994, and spent 400 weeks in the top-10.[6] His highest ranking was number two. In his prime Montgomerie was considered one of the best drivers of the golf ball in the world and became a very precise iron player, often able to judge the distance he hit the ball exactly from long range.

    Montgomerie came first in the Volvo Bonus Pool every year from 1993 to 1998. The Volvo Bonus Pool was an extra tranche of prize money awarded at the end of each European Tour season from 1988 to 1998 to the regular members of the tour who had had the best performances over the season.[7]

    His form fell away gradually in the new millennium, partly due to marriage problems, and his ranking slumped to 82nd in the world, but he came back strongly in 2005, winning a record eighth European Tour Order of Merit and returning to the top ten in the World Rankings.[8] Late in 2005 he became the first man to win 20 million Euros on the European Tour—topping the European Tour's all-time highest earners list. He won for the first time in nearly two years at the Smurfit Kappa European Open in July 2007. In 2008, Montgomerie slipped out of the top 100 players in the world ranking system.[9] A runner-up finish at the 2008 French Open in June boosted him back up the rankings, but his good play was short-lived, and as a result Montgomerie failed to qualify for Nick Faldo's 2008 Ryder Cup team. In March 2009, Montgomerie played in his milestone 500th European Tour event at the Open de Andalucia where he made the cut, but was not in contention during the weekend. He remained the leader in career earnings on the European Tour until 2010, when he was surpassed by Ernie Els.

    After nearly two years without a top-10 finish, Montgomerie posted a final round of 68 for a share of 7th place in the 2011 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Despite the drop in form, his influence remained strong. In 2012, Montgomerie was named by the Golf Club Managers' Association's Golf Club Management magazine as the seventh most powerful person in British golf.[10] In August 2012, Montgomerie finished tied for 6th at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, his highest finish in over four years.

    In June 2013, after turning 50, Montgomerie joined the Champions Tour, where he made his debut in the Constellation Senior Players Championship, one of the five senior major championships.[11] On 25 May 2014, Montgomerie won his first senior major championship at the Senior PGA Championship.[12] He followed this up on 13 July 2014, when he claimed his second senior major at the U.S. Senior Open.[13] On 24 May 2015, Montgomerie defended his Senior PGA Championship title to win his third senior major. However, in 2016 he narrowly missed out on making it three Senior PGA Championships in a row – finishing second and three shots behind winner Rocco Mediate.[14] He won twice on the senior circuit in 2017, winning the inaugural Japan Airlines Championship before claiming his sixth Champions Tour win at the SAS Championship.[15] His most recent victory came at the Invesco QQQ Championship in 2019.[16]

    Form at major championships

    Montgomerie is generally considered to be one of the best golfers never to have won a major championship, after finishing in second place on five separate occasions. During what most consider to be his best years in the 1990s Montgomerie had several close shaves. A third place at the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links was the first of these. He was prematurely congratulated by Jack Nicklaus who said "Congratulations on your first U.S. Open victory" to Montgomerie after he finished the 18th hole on Sunday.[17] Tom Kite, who was still on the golf course when Montgomerie finished, wound up winning the championship.

    At the 1994 U.S. Open, played at Oakmont Country Club, Montgomerie lost in a three-man playoff to Ernie Els (a playoff which also included Loren Roberts). Montgomerie shot 78 to trail the 74s shot by Els and Roberts, with Els winning at the 20th extra hole.

    At the 1995 PGA Championship, Montgomerie birdied the final three holes of the Riviera Country Club course in the final round, to tie Steve Elkington at 17 under par, which was a record low score in a major championship. On the first sudden-death playoff hole, after being in better position after two shots, Montgomerie missed his putt, while Elkington holed from 35 feet to claim the title.

    Els defeated Montgomerie at the 1997 U.S. Open, played at Congressional Country Club. Montgomerie opened the tournament with a 65 but shot a 76 in the second round. A bogey on the 71st hole dropped Montgomerie one shot behind Els, who parred the last to win.

    At the 2006 U.S. Open, played on the West course of the Winged Foot Golf Club, Montgomerie had yet another chance to win his first major championship. He stood in the middle of the 18th fairway in the final round having sunk a 50-foot birdie putt on the 17th green, which put him in the joint lead with Phil Mickelson. While waiting in position on the 18th fairway for the group in front to finish, Montgomerie switched his club from a 6-iron to a 7-iron, assuming adrenaline would kick in. Once the wait was over, he hit the approach shot poorly, ending up short and right of the green, in thick rough. He pitched onto the green, and then three-putted from 30 feet to lose the tournament by one stroke. After the loss, Montgomerie said, "At my age I've got to think positively. I'm 43 next week, and it's nice I can come back to this tournament and do well again, and I look forward to coming back here again next year and trying another U.S. Open disaster."[18] Geoff Ogilvy won the championship.

    Montgomerie's best finish in the Masters Tournament came in 1998 when he finished tied for 8th.

    At The Open Championship in 2001 at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Montgomerie started brightly with an opening 65, and still remained ahead after 36 holes, but he fell away over the weekend. He was also in contention with two rounds to play at Muirfield in 2002 and Royal Troon Golf Club in 2004, but failed to capitalise and finished midway down the field. His best finish in the Championship came in 2005 at St Andrews, where he finished second to Tiger Woods, who beat him by five shots.

    In 2016, Montgomerie came through Open Qualifying at Gailes Links to qualify for his home Open at Royal Troon.[19] He had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot at the tournament[20] and ended up making the cut.[21]

    Following Sergio García's victory at the 2017 Masters, Montgomerie (with 75 starts) trailed only Jay Haas (87) and Lee Westwood (76) as the player with the most starts without a major title.[22]

    Ryder Cup and other golf

    Despite his disappointments in the majors, Montgomerie is heralded as one of the greatest Ryder Cup players of all time. To date he has been a member of the European team on eight occasions, and has never lost in a singles match. He holds a win-lose-draw record of 20–9–7, thus giving him a total points scored tally of 23.5, only 2 points behind the all-time record held by Sergio García. He has played pivotal roles in several of the matches. He halved the last hole with Scott Hoch to obtain the half-point that won Europe the cup in 1997, and sank the winning putt,[23] in what is considered to be his finest hour in the 2004 staging of the event.

    Montgomerie was not part of Nick Faldo's 2008 Ryder Cup team, with the wildcards going to Paul Casey and Ian Poulter. Montgomerie captained the Great Britain and Ireland team in the first four stagings of the Seve Trophy, losing in 2000 but winning in 2002, 2003, and 2005.

    On 28 January 2009, it was announced that Montgomerie would be the captain the European team at the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.[24] On 4 October 2010, Montgomerie led the European team to victory, 14 to 13.[25] On the same day he also announced that he would be stepping down as captain of the European Team.[26] In December 2010, he accepted the BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year award as captain of the victorious Ryder Cup team.[27]

    Montgomerie has been the playing captain of the European team in the Royal Trophy, played against a team from Asia. Europe was successful on both those occasions. He has the distinction having been a victorious player and captain in the Ryder Cup, Seve Trophy and Royal Trophy.[28]

    In 2011, Montgomerie was named president of the English junior golf charity, the Golf Foundation, and in 2012 the Scottish first minister, Alex Salmond, named him as an ambassador for the Scottish junior golf programme, ClubGolf.[29]

    In March 2015, Montgomerie accepted the captaincy of London Scottish Golf Club in Wimbledon to mark that club's 150th anniversary.[30]

    Montgomerie was also a columnist for the Scottish golf magazine, Bunkered, between 2008 and 2010.

    OBE

    At the end of 2004, Montgomerie was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours. He represents the Turnberry resort in Scotland, where there is a Colin Montgomerie Golf Academy.

    Personal life

    Montgomerie met his first wife Eimear Wilson, from Troon,[3] when he was a good amateur and she was a promotions assistant. She was a 17-year-old law student at Edinburgh University and a spectator at an amateur championship in Nairn, at which Montgomerie destroyed the field.[31] The couple had three children, and lived in Oxshott, Surrey. In 2002, Eimear gave Montgomerie an ultimatum to choose between golf and marriage, resulting in Montgomerie spending 10 weeks alone before they agreed to try again.

    In 2006, the couple finally broke up, with Eimear suing for divorce on grounds of unreasonable behaviour due to his obsession with golf,[32] claiming it left her suffering from anxiety and depression.[33] In 2006, the couple agreed to a clean break divorce settlement of £8 million, in return for Eimear giving up any claim on Colin's future earnings.[34] [35]

    Since the divorce, he has had various relationships, including Spanish model Inés Sastre,[36] and a divorced neighbour Jo Baldwin, whom he met on the school run.[37] Their split, he suggested, caused his worst run in his professional career.[38]

    In 2007, Montgomerie announced his engagement to Scottish millionairess Gaynor Knowles. The couple wed on 19 April 2008 at Loch Lomond Golf Club.[39] [40] On 8 July 2010, Montgomerie was granted a super injunction by Mr Justice Eady, which came to light when he attended a press conference at the 2010 PGA Championship in Wisconsin.[41] In March 2017, he and Knowles divorced.[42] Montgomerie married for the third time in 2023 to his manager, Sarah Casey.[43]

    Amateur wins

    Professional wins (54)

    European Tour wins (31)

    Legend
    Flagship events (3)
    Tour Championships (2)
    Other European Tour (26)
    No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
    victory
    Runner(s)-up
    122 Oct 1989Portuguese Open TPC−24 (67-65-69-63=264)11 strokes Rodger Davis, Manuel Moreno,
    Mike Smith
    24 Aug 1991Scandinavian Masters−18 (68-65-70-67=270)1 stroke Seve Ballesteros
    325 Jul 1993Heineken Dutch Open−7 (68-73-71-69=281)1 stroke José Cóceres, Jean van de Velde
    47 Nov 1993Volvo Masters−10 (69-70-67-68=274)1 stroke Darren Clarke
    515 May 1994Peugeot Spanish Open−11 (70-71-66-70=277)1 stroke Richard Boxall, Mark McNulty,
    Mark Roe
    621 Aug 1994Murphy's English Open−14 (70-67-68-69=274)1 stroke Barry Lane
    728 Aug 1994Volvo German Open−19 (65-68-66-70=269)1 stroke Bernhard Langer
    827 Aug 1995Volvo German Open (2)−16 (69-64-68-67=268)1 stroke Niclas Fasth, Sam Torrance
    910 Sep 1995Trophée Lancôme−11 (64-69-65-71=269)1 stroke Sam Torrance
    1017 Mar 1996Dubai Desert Classic−18 (67-68-67-68=270)1 stroke Miguel Ángel Jiménez
    117 Jul 1996Murphy's Irish Open−5 (69-69-73-68=279)1 stroke Andrew Oldcorn, Wayne Riley
    128 Sep 1996Canon European Masters−24 (65-71-61-63=260)4 strokes Sam Torrance
    138 Jun 1997Compaq European Grand Prix−18 (69-68-68-65=270)5 strokes Retief Goosen
    146 Jul 1997Murphy's Irish Open (2)−15 (68-70-69-62=269)7 strokes Lee Westwood
    1525 May 1998Volvo PGA Championship−14 (70-70-65-69=274)1 stroke Ernie Els, Gary Orr,
    Patrik Sjöland
    1613 Sep 1998One 2 One British Masters−7 (70-72-70-69=281)1 stroke Pierre Fulke, Eduardo Romero
    1727 Sep 1998Linde German Masters−22 (65-68-66-67=266)1 stroke Robert Karlsson, Vijay Singh
    1816 May 1999Benson & Hedges International Open−15 (68-66-71-68=273)3 strokes Ángel Cabrera, Per-Ulrik Johansson
    1931 May 1999Volvo PGA Championship (2)−18 (69-70-67-64=270)5 strokes Mark James
    2011 Jul 1999Standard Life Loch Lomond−16 (69-65-70-64=268)3 strokes Sergio García, Michael Jonzon,
    Mats Lanner
    218 Aug 1999Volvo Scandinavian Masters (2)−20 (67-67-65-69=268)9 strokes Jesper Parnevik
    2222 Aug 1999BMW International Open−20 (69-65-64-70=268)3 strokes Pádraig Harrington
    237 May 2000Novotel Perrier Open de France−16 (71-68-65-68=272)2 strokes Jonathan Lomas
    2429 May 2000Volvo PGA Championship (3)−17 (67-65-70-69=271)3 strokes Darren Clarke, Andrew Coltart,
    Lee Westwood
    251 Jul 2001Murphy's Irish Open (3)−18 (63-69-68-66=266)5 strokes Darren Clarke, Niclas Fasth,
    Pádraig Harrington
    265 Aug 2001Volvo Scandinavian Masters (3)−14 (66-69-69-70=274)1 stroke Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood
    2710 Nov 2002Volvo Masters Andalucía (2)−3 (70-69-72-70=281)Shared title with Bernhard Langer
    2821 Mar 2004Caltex Masters1−16 (71-69-67-65=272)3 strokes Gregory Hanrahan
    292 Oct 2005Dunhill Links Championship−9 (70-65-73-71=279)1 stroke Kenneth Ferrie
    304 Dec 2005
    (2006 season)
    UBS Hong Kong Open1−9 (69-66-66-70=271)1 stroke K. J. Choi, James Kingston,
    Lin Keng-chi, Edward Loar,
    Thammanoon Sriroj
    318 Jul 2007Smurfit Kappa European Open−11 (69-71-64-65=269)1 stroke Niclas Fasth
    *Langer and Montgomerie agreed to share the 2002 Volvo Masters Andalucía after failing light caused play to halt after two holes of a playoff.
    1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour

    European Tour playoff record (0–7–1)

    No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
    11991Volvo PGA Championship Seve BallesterosLost to birdie on first extra hole
    21992Volvo Masters Sandy LyleLost to par on first extra hole
    31994U.S. Open Ernie Els, Loren RobertsEls won with par on second extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
    Els: +3 (74),
    Roberts: +3 (74),
    Montgomerie: +7 (78)
    41995Murphy's English Open Philip WaltonLost to birdie on second extra hole
    51995PGA Championship Steve ElkingtonLost to birdie on first extra hole
    61998Murphy's Irish Open David CarterLost to par on first extra hole
    72002Deutsche Bank - SAP Open TPC of Europe Tiger WoodsLost to par on third extra hole
    82002Volvo Masters Andalucía Bernhard LangerPlayoff abandoned after two holes due to darkness; tournament shared

    Asian Tour wins (4)

    No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
    victory
    Runner(s)-up
    117 Nov 2002TCL Classic−16 (70-68-67-67=272)2 strokes Thongchai Jaidee
    219 Oct 2003Macau Open−11 (66-72-67-68=273)Playoff Scott Barr
    321 Mar 2004Caltex Masters1−16 (71-69-67-65=272)3 strokes Gregory Hanrahan
    44 Dec 2005UBS Hong Kong Open1−9 (69-66-66-70=271)1 stroke K. J. Choi, James Kingston,
    Lin Keng-chi, Edward Loar,
    Thammanoon Sriroj
    1Co-sanctioned by the European Tour

    Asian Tour playoff record (1–0)

    Other wins (7)

    No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
    victory
    Runner(s)-up
    11 Dec 1996Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge−14 (66-71-70-68=274)Playoff Ernie Els
    24 Jan 1997Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf2 up Davis Love III
    318 Nov 1997Hassan II Golf Trophy−15 (73-68-67-69=277)3 strokes Donnie Hammond, David Howell,
    Henrik Nyström
    423 Nov 1997World Cup of Golf Individual Trophy−22 (68-66-66-66=266)2 strokes Alex Čejka
    517 Oct 1999Cisco World Match Play Championship3 and 2 Mark O'Meara
    625 Nov 2000Skins Game$415,000$155,000 Vijay Singh
    725 Nov 2007Omega Mission Hills World Cup
    (with Marc Warren)
    −25 (63-68-66-66=263)Playoff

    Other playoff record (2–1)

    No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
    11996Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge Ernie ElsWon with birdie on third extra hole
    22006WGC-World Cup
    (with Marc Warren)
    Lost to par on first extra hole
    32007Omega Mission Hills World Cup
    (with Marc Warren)
    Won with par on third extra hole

    PGA Tour Champions wins (7)

    Legend
    Senior major championships (3)
    Charles Schwab Cup playoff events (1)
    Other PGA Tour Champions (3)
    No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
    victory
    Runner(s)-up
    125 May 2014Senior PGA Championship−13 (69-69-68-65=271)4 strokes Tom Watson
    213 Jul 2014U.S. Senior Open−5 (65-71-74-69=279)Playoff Gene Sauers
    324 May 2015Senior PGA Championship (2)−8 (72-69-70-69=280)4 strokes Esteban Toledo
    425 Sep 2016Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship−15 (67-64-67=198)Playoff Scott McCarron
    510 Sep 2017Japan Airlines Championship−14 (69-66-67=202)1 stroke Billy Mayfair, Scott McCarron
    615 Oct 2017SAS Championship−16 (69-67-64=200)3 strokes Doug Garwood, Vijay Singh
    73 Nov 2019Invesco QQQ Championship−14 (69-70-63=202)Playoff Bernhard Langer

    PGA Tour Champions playoff record (3–0)

    No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
    12014U.S. Senior Open Gene SauersWon three-hole aggregate playoff;
    Montgomerie: E (5-3-4=12),
    Sauers: x (5-4-x=x)
    22016Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship Scott McCarronWon with birdie on third extra hole
    32019Invesco QQQ Championship Bernhard LangerWon with par on first extra hole

    European Senior Tour wins (9)

    Legend
    Senior major championships (3)
    Tour Championships (1)
    Other European Senior Tour (5)
    No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
    victory
    Runner(s)-up
    11 Sep 2013Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters−10 (68-68-70=206)6 strokes Miguel Ángel Martín, Paul Wesselingh
    225 May 2014Senior PGA Championship−13 (69-69-68-65=271)4 strokes Tom Watson
    313 Jul 2014U.S. Senior Open−5 (65-71-74-69=279)Playoff Gene Sauers
    431 Aug 2014Travis Perkins Masters (2)−12 (68-69-67=204)10 strokes André Bossert, Gordon Manson,
    Tim Thelen
    57 Sep 2014Russian Open Golf Championship (Senior)−14 (69-68-65=202)3 strokes Rick Gibson
    624 May 2015Senior PGA Championship (2)−8 (72-69-70-69=280)4 strokes Esteban Toledo
    76 Sep 2015Travis Perkins Masters (3)−5 (73-67-71=211)Playoff Ross Drummond
    813 Dec 2015MCB Tour Championship−15 (68-64-69=201)3 strokes David Frost
    93 Jun 2018Shipco Masters−11 (71-67-67=205)3 strokes Paul Eales, Barry Lane

    European Senior Tour playoff record (2–0)

    No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
    12014U.S. Senior Open Gene SauersWon three-hole aggregate playoff;
    Montgomerie: E (5-3-4=12),
    Sauers: x (5-4-x=x)
    22015Travis Perkins Masters Ross DrummondWon with birdie on second extra hole

    Playoff record

    PGA Tour playoff record (0–2)

    No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
    11994U.S. Open Ernie Els, Loren RobertsEls won with par on second extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
    Els: +3 (74),
    Roberts: +3 (74),
    Montgomerie: +7 (78)
    21995PGA Championship Steve ElkingtonLost to birdie on first extra hole

    Results in major championships

    Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
    Masters TournamentT37T52CUTT17T39T30T8T11
    U.S. Open3T33T2T28T102T18T15
    The Open ChampionshipT48T26CUTCUTT8CUTCUTT24CUTT15
    PGA ChampionshipT33CUTT362CUTT13T44T6
    Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
    Masters TournamentT19CUTT14CUTCUTCUTCUT
    U.S. OpenT46T52CUTT42T42T2CUTCUT
    The Open ChampionshipT26T1382WDT252CUTCUTT58CUT
    PGA ChampionshipT39DQCUTCUT70CUTCUTT42CUTCUT
    Tournament2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
    Masters Tournament
    U.S. OpenT64
    The Open ChampionshipT6878
    PGA ChampionshipCUTT69CUT
    CUT = missed the half-way cut
    WD = withdrew
    DQ = disqualified
    "T" = tied

    Summary

    Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
    0 0 0 0 1 5 15 9
    0 3 1 4 5 7 17 14
    0 1 0 1 2 6 22 13
    PGA Championship 0 1 0 1 2 3 21 10
    Totals 0 5 1 6 10 21 75 46

    Results in The Players Championship

    CUT = missed the halfway cut
    "T" indicates a tie for a place

    Results in World Golf Championships

    Tournament1999200020012002200320042005200620072008
    Match PlayR64R32R64R64R16R32R32R16
    ChampionshipT20T25NT1T31T51T3T41T55T65
    InvitationalT30T84WDT23T58T9T4177

    1Cancelled due to 9/11
    WD = Withdrew
    QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
    "T" = tied
    NT = No Tournament

    Senior major championships

    Wins (3)

    YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
    2014 1 shot lead −13 (69-69-68-65=271) 4 strokes Tom Watson
    2014 4 shot deficit −5 (65-71-74-69=279) Playoff Gene Sauers
    2015 Senior PGA Championship (2) 3 shot lead −8 (72-69-70-69=280) 4 strokes Esteban Toledo

    Results timeline

    Results are not in chronological order before 2022.

    Tournament 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 201920202021202220232024
    The TraditionT16T24T17T25T27WDNTT39T18T23T67
    Senior PGA Championship112T17T6T21NTCUTT8T15T43
    U.S. Senior OpenT3012T11T42T38T24NTT34T28T23CUT
    Senior Players ChampionshipT9T15T3T13T6T43T13T3T12T25T27T44
    The Senior Open ChampionshipT2123CUTT23T14T18NTT11968T37
    WD = withdrew
    CUT = missed the halfway cut
    "T" indicates a tie for a place
    NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

    Team appearances

    Amateur

    Professional

    Ryder Cup points! 1991!! 1993!! 1995!! 1997!! 1999!! 2002!! 2004!! 2006!! Total
    1.5 3.5 2 3.5 3.5 4.5 3223.5

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Week 45 – Sergio Garcia Claims The World Number Two Spot With Victory at the HSBC Champions . 10 November 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090215035401/http://www.officialworldgolfranking.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=6622240&itype=&iCategoryID=0 . 15 February 2009 . Official World Golf Ranking.
    2. Web site: Montgomerie, Schofield complete Hall of Fame class . PGA Tour . 18 December 2012 . 18 December 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121221104020/http://www.pgatour.com/2012/r/12/18/wghof/index.html . 21 December 2012.
    3. News: Monty's anger as he sells £6m home . The Scotsman. William . Lyons . 24 January 2005 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060116164421/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=87102005 . 16 January 2006 .
    4. Web site: Monty's Backing . https://web.archive.org/web/20080412072231/http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~1284521,00.html . 12 April 2008 . LeedsUnited.com.
    5. News: Colin Montgomerie . BBC Radio 4 – Desert Island Discs . 15 September 2013 . 12 March 2000 . 6 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111106052945/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/6c67e007#p0094b3t . live .
    6. Web site: 69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 in World Ranking . Official World Golf Ranking . 15 July 2011 . 17 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151017160152/http://dps.endavadigital.net/owgr/doc/content/2007 . dead .
    7. Web site: Colin Montgomerie – 2015 PGA Championship profile . PGA of America . 19 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160509072003/https://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/scoring/profile/08635 . 9 May 2016.
    8. News: Montgomerie back in world top 10 . BBC Sport . 5 December 2005 . 30 April 2010 . 9 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509163426/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/4498444.stm . live .
    9. Web site: Week 22 – 2008 . 1 June 2008 . Official World Golf Ranking . 5 February 2012 . 13 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130813234702/http://dps.endavadigital.net/owgr/doc/content/archive/2008/owgr22f2008.pdf . live .
    10. Web site: Golf Power List 10-1 . The Golf Business . Alistair . Dunsmuir . 26 July 2012 . 29 January 2020 . 29 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129201753/http://www.thegolfbusiness.co.uk/2012/07/golf-power-list-10-1/5/ . live .
    11. News: Gray . Will . 26 June 2013 . Montgomerie eyes major in Champions Tour debut . Golf Channel . 30 June 2013 . 30 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130630081906/http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/montgomerie-eyes-major-in-champions-tour-debut/ . live .
    12. News: 25 May 2014 . Montgomerie shoots 65 in winning Senior PGA . ESPN . Associated Press . 29 January 2020 . 29 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129170856/https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/10984025/colin-montgomerie-shoots-65-winning-senior-pga-championship . live .
    13. Web site: 13 July 2014 . Montgomerie wins U.S. Senior Open in playoff . 15 July 2014 . PGA Tour . 15 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715061151/http://www.pgatour.com/champions/daily-wrapup/2014/07/13/colin-montgomerie-wins-us-senior-open-in-playoff.html . live .
    14. Inglis . Martin . 30 May 2016 . Colin Montgomerie: 'I did nothing wrong' . bunkered . 30 May 2016 . 24 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160624042015/http://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/colin-montgomerie-i-did-nothing-wrong . live .
    15. 16 October 2017 . Colin Montgomerie wins sixth Champions Tour title . bunkered . 19 October 2017 . 24 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171024084303/http://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/colin-montgomerie-wins-sixth-champions-tour-title . live .
    16. Web site: Colin Montgomerie wins Invesco QQQ Championship - PGA TOUR . 2023-09-03 . www.pgatour.com . 3 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230903232346/https://www.pgatour.com/pgatour-champions/article/news/daily-wrapup/2019/11/03/colin-montgomerie-wins-invesco-qqq-championship . live .
    17. News: Golf; Kite Beats the Elements, but It Isn't a Breeze . The New York Times . Jaime . Diaz . 22 June 1992 . 30 April 2010 . 13 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130813223341/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/22/sports/golf-kite-beats-the-elements-but-it-isn-t-a-breeze.html?scp=1&sq=Colin+Montgomerie+Jack+Nicklaus&st=nyt . live .
    18. Book: The Gigantic Book of Golf Quotations . Jim . Apfelbaum . 2007 . 978-1602390140 . Skyhorse Publishing.
    19. Colin Montgomerie set for 'special' Troon swansong . 28 June 2016 . bunkered . Martin . Inglis . 16 November 2016 . 16 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164035/http://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/colin-montgomerie-set-for-special-troon-swansong . live .
    20. Colin Montgomerie gets the Open underway . 14 July 2016 . bunkered . Martin . Inglis . 16 November 2016 . 17 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161117063216/http://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/colin-montgomerie-gets-the-open-underway . live .
    21. Colin Montgomerie makes Royal Troon cut . 15 July 2016 . bunkered . Martin . Inglis . 16 November 2016 . 17 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161117062941/http://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/colin-montgomerie-makes-royal-troon-cut . live .
    22. Web site: Masters 2017: Key numbers to know ahead of Sunday's final round . PGA of America . 9 April 2017 . 9 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170410052306/https://www.pga.com/news/masters/masters-2017-key-numbers-know-ahead-sundays-final-round . 10 April 2017.
    23. Montgomerie is widely credited as having holed the winning putt, although Ian Poulter birdied on the 15th hole of his match to guarantee a half-point and so mathematically win the Ryder Cup seconds before Montgomerie. This was commentated on by course commentators and Radio Five, whose golf correspondent Ian Coulter recalled in the News of the World: "My editor said Poulter was three up seconds before Monty hit his putt. Then Colin's putt went in – you can imagine the situation. To have overruled his achievement would have been like trying to deny Alan Shearer a goal that went in off a defender." "This man won us Ryder Cup – not Monty" News of the World (London); 26 September 2004; Geoff Sweet; p. 75. Frank Keating of The Guardian also noted this chain of events, writing "radio logged the fact that it was not Montgomerie's putt which actually clinched the cup but Poulter's, a matter of seconds before and a few holes behind." "Golf, Cricket: Notes from the touchline" The Guardian; 24 September 2004; Frank Keating; p. 34
    24. News: Monty to lead Europe at Ryder Cup . 28 January 2009 . BBC Sport . 29 January 2020 . 29 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129170858/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/7849800.stm . live .
    25. News: Ryder Cup 2010 reaction: Graeme McDowell says pressure was 'bananas' . 4 October 2010 . The Telegraph . 4 October 2010 . London . Sandy . MacAskill . 7 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101007062455/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/rydercup/8041887/Ryder-Cup-2010-reaction-Graeme-McDowell-says-pressure-was-bananas.html . live .
    26. News: Captain Montgomerie tips Olazabal . 5 October 2010 . BBC Sport . 29 January 2020 . 29 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129170856/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/9060268.stm . live .
    27. News: Colin Montgomerie wins Sports Personality coach award . 19 December 2010 . BBC Sport . 21 December 2010 . 13 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230613204349/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/9287667.stm . live .
    28. News: McGinley in pole position, but what now? - News . Irish Golf Desk . 17 September 2011 . 21 June 2023 . 21 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230621131216/https://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2011/9/17/mcginley-in-pole-position-but-what-now.html . live .
    29. News: Colin Montgomerie one of Scotland's new ambassadors . Strathspey Herald . 11 July 2012 . 21 June 2023 . 21 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230621125833/https://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/news/colin-montgomerie-among-those-chosen-as-clubgolf-ambassadors-by-first-minister-117864/ . live .
    30. Montgomerie made London Scottish captain . 7 April 2015 . Golf Monthly . Tom . Clarke . 9 April 2015 . 10 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150410132357/http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/news/notice-board/montgomerie-made-london-scottish-captain-68510 . live .
    31. News: The cruellest cut: Monty's marriage collapses in the final round . The Sydney Morning Herald . 1 May 2004 . 25 June 2007 . 19 March 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060319181452/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/30/1083224590022.html?from=storyrhs . live .
    32. Web site: Colin Montgomerie Divorce Settlement . lawyersandsettlements.com . 29 January 2020 . 29 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129170900/https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/04900/golf_divorce.html . live .
    33. News: Marriage left me depressed, says Monty's ex-wife . The Daily Telegraph . London . 17 May 2014 . Helen . Johnstone . 11 September 2004 . 11 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140611140829/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1471480/Marriage-left-me-depressed-says-Montys-ex-wife.html . live .
    34. News: Monty in £15m divorce settlement . BBC Sport . 2 February 2006 . 30 April 2010 . 17 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120244/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/4672782.stm . live .
    35. Web site: Colin Montgomerie's divorce costs him £15m . Golf Today . 25 June 2007 . 26 September 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060926122657/http://www.golftoday.co.uk/news/yeartodate/news06/colin_montgomerie.html . live .
    36. Web site: The Sports Network.
    37. News: Montgomerie happy to be back on track . The Guardian . London . Paul . Kelso . 18 July 2005 . 30 April 2010 . 9 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509163819/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/jul/18/theopen2005.theopen2 . live .
    38. News: Sport News - The Scotsman - Scottish Sport . The Scotsman . 29 January 2020 . 17 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110617052608/http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Aberdeen-legend-Zoltan-Varga-65.6217465.jp . live .
    39. News: Colin Montgomerie's dinner engagement . Mair . Lewine . 29 August 2007 . The Daily Telegraph . 9 April 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090211122946/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/2320064/Colin-Montgomerie%27s-dinner-engagement.html . 11 February 2009.
    40. News: Ernie Els can still be king of Europe . Mair . Lewine . 31 October 2007 . The Daily Telegraph . 9 April 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090211113044/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/2324590/Ernie-Els-can-still-be-king-of-Europe.html . 11 February 2009.
    41. News: Colin Montgomerie wins gagging order over tabloid story . Caroline . Gammell . Mark . Reason . 11 August 2010 . The Daily Telegraph . 31 December 2019 . 31 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191231164620/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/7939991/Colin-Montgomerie-wins-gagging-order-over-tabloid-story.html . live .
    42. News: Colin Montgomerie settles divorce from wife Gaynor . Mulholland . James . 24 March 2017 . The Scotsman . 25 March 2017 . 24 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170324180258/http://www.scotsman.com/news/colin-montgomerie-settles-divorce-from-wife-gaynor-1-4402915 . live .
    43. News: Golf icon Colin Montgomerie marries for third time after wedding his manager . Sunderland . Tom . 11 January 2023 . Daily Mirror . 17 July 2023 . 17 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230717113803/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/colin-montgomerie-golf-married-manager-28925320 . live .
    44. News: Scots beat odds to reach youth's final . . 23 . 3 September 1982 . 2023-01-02 . 2 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230102100245/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19820903&printsec=frontpage&hl=en . live .
    45. Anders . Nordlund . September 1982 . Sveriges öde i junior-EM hängde på ett sprinklerlock, Junior-EM, pojkar . Swedens destiny in the Junior Europeans depended on a sprinkler cover, European Youth's Team Championship . Svensk Golf . sv . 50, 65 . 7/1982 . 2023-01-01 . 3 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211103063800/http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/57n98r92/64 . live .
    46. Anders . Nordlund . October 1984 . JEM-brons med idel debutanter, Junior-EM, pojkar . European bronze with only rookies, European Youth's Team Championship . Svensk Golf . sv . 40, 65 . 10/1984 . 2023-01-01 . 1 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230101212058/http://www.e-magin.se/paper/p1x9h0dk/paper/65#/paper/p1x9h0dk/65 . live .
    47. News: Scots trail by 15 shots . . 10 . 30 August 1984 . 2023-01-01 . 1 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230101214235/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19840830&printsec=frontpage&hl=en . live .