Exclusive Monty interview - he's not that grumpy!

Posted on 18/02/09. Source: Fairway to Green Magazine (By David Connor)

"Remember to ask him why he's so bloody grumpy" was the rather ironic parting shot from our esteemed editor-in-chief - our very own in-house curmudgeon - as I set off to meet Colin Montgomerie for an exclusive interview with the Ryder Cup skipper and eight-time European Order of Merit winner.

En-route to coming face-to-face with one of Europe's finest ever golfers I couldn't help but come to the conclusion that my editor's brief comment, whether he meant it or not, perfectly summed up Montgomerie's entire career. Monty is one of my (and incidentally my editor's) all-time golfing heroes and his winning record stands up to scrutiny with the best the world has to offer.

But despite 31 European Tour victories and an enviable Ryder Cup record to his name, he is known just as much for his flaws as he is his genius.

Throughout his career he's been compared to everyone from Victor Meldrew to Mrs Doubtfire and there have been a few other choice adjectives used to describe him in between.

He has also earned a fearsome reputation for his temper and scathing tongue with spectators, journalists and photographers alike.

Then there's the unwanted tag of being the best player never to have won a major championship as well as a reputation for choking when he had the chances, most notably in the 2006 US Open when a double bogey at the 72nd hole cost him the title.

So does he deserve his reputation as irritable, difficult, unapproachable and curt?

I intended to ask him just that.

We had been invited along by his club sponsors Yonex to interview him at one of its corporate days following the launch of the new V-MX range of drivers, woods and irons.  It is perceived that these days are the bane of many a professional golfer's life, having to mix, mingle, curtsy and bow, all the while pretending they are enjoying themselves hob-nobbing with the corporate guests.

• "I'm a different person on the course. Most people are like that in their place of business. That's my office and I'm very competitive out there ..."

On top of that they usually have some media duties to perform so it was going to be interesting to see how golf 's Mr Grumpy would handle such an occasion.

With all of that in mind, turning up almost three quarters of an hour late for our interview perhaps wasn't the best idea. But instead of walking in to face a snarling, hot-headed Montgomerie, I was  met by a warm, beaming smile and welcoming handshake. Was this the real Monty.

"I think I am a different person on the course," he said.

"I think most people are like that in their place of business. That's my office and I'm very competitive when I'm out there.

"When I'm not being competitive I'm a very different person. Most people are. Michael Douglas on a golf course [the two have played together at the Dunhill Links Championship] and Michael Douglas on a film set are two different people and it's the same for a number of people away from their work.

"I make no apologies for being competitive. People meet me off the course and they see a very different person to what they would've expected."

Now that that's out of the way, it is clear to me that Monty is not only a completely affable human being, but also a very gracious interviewee and I feel I could ask him anything and get an honest answer, which is perhaps why he is considered to be so outspoken.

I decide to ask him about his 2008 season, which was his second-worst finish in the Order of Merit since 1988 and undoubtedly his most disappointing to date as it saw him fail to make the Ryder Cup team for the first time since 1991.

"It was not what I was looking for at all and obviously culminated in not being picked for the Ryder Cup. And to be honest, it deserved to be that way.

"I'm glad the year has come to an end and we can start afresh in 2009. It just hasn't worked for me. I recently watched a film of myself in 1995 and my backswing has changed dramatically since then.

"It is much more outside the line. I need to get more on the inside and turn my body to give myself more power."

He has since flown to Houston, Texas, to meet up with coach Paul Marchand.  He started working with Marchand in 1998 and subsequently enjoyed one of his best years in 1999 when he won a throng of big events and never finished outside the top 20 in Europe or any of the four majors.

Monty believes his edge is his competitiveness and is adamant that with the right swing, his advancing years will prove no barrier to returning back to the top of the game.

"In 2003/2004 I was written off but came back to win the Order of Merit. We have to start again. It gets tougher. There will be a time when I won't come back again because it does fall off - but I don't think that time is now.

"It is falling now and I've got to stop that. I feel confident now at 45 to stop it. Vijay Singh is winning and if he can do that so can I, but it will take a lot of effort on my game and technically.

"Mentally I'm strong. That comes from my competitiveness. I love the competition of the game more than I love the game. I love getting out there to compete but I don't get off on hitting 100 balls and I think that's good.

"I just want to get close to the hole and beat my competitors and hole the putt.

"That's my drive and that's still in me. I think there's only one man who is as competitive as I am and that's Tiger Woods. I've got to have that."

There's no doubt there is still fire in the belly and as the conversation drifts on to the Ryder Cup that hunger and desire is more apparent than ever, although he looks genuinely hurt when I remark that the recent event at Valhalla was the first without Scottish involvement since 1938.

"That is very disappointing, especially since it was me who caused that statistic.

"We have to make sure that statistic isn't added to in 2010," he says with a powerful sense of purpose - and he's now ideally placed to keep an eye on his fellow Scots' suitability and form.

However, the best players do not always make the best captains - a criticism many have made of  Nick Faldo - so what would Monty bring to the party.

After spilling his Diet Coke following the mention of Faldo's captaincy - a telling summation of his stewardship or an unfortunate coincidence? - he said: "I would bring what I've learned over the years playing under six different captains.

"They all brought their positives and sometimes the odd negative. Those positives are there to be used. I have learned from all of them and will bring all of that as well as a lot of myself."

Watching Monty on the course at Foxhills playing with guests of Yonex, it is clear he is not simply putting on a brave face - he is someone who genuinely enjoys the banter and the joke telling that goes on in non-competitive rounds.

He even managed to keep a smile on his face when one of his playing partners refused his light-hearted request to be given an eight-foot putt for par - which he duly missed.

But while it is easy to keep smiling after missing a putt during a friendly match, a total of five runners-up finishes in major championships would surely begin to dent the old confidence.

Monty has suffered more than his fair share of on-course heartbreak during his career.  His 2006 US Open double bogey aside, one of the hardest moments came during the 1995 US PGA when Monty birdied the last three holes to finish level with Steve Elkington to force a play-off, only to see the Australian hole an unlikely 35-footer to take the title.

And the career of another leading light of the European game, Sergio Garcia, seems already to be following a similar path to that of his Ryder Cup colleague. The Spaniard already has three runners-up finishes in major championships including the heartbreaking Open and US Open losses to Padraig Harrington, but Monty is convinced Garcia will succeed where he has failed and will one day clear the hurdle of his first major.

"Sergio should've won the Open the first time out against Harrington. The writing was on the wall when he dropped a shot on the last when he should have had his four.

"The question was whether to defend his lead or attack. Then to lose to Harrington again will have been very difficult. He will win a major but it is just a case of when.  We forget that he's very, very young. He's like Wayne Rooney in that respect; he seems to have been around for ages but
he is still young.

• "Sergio Garcia will win a major, but it is just a case of when. We forget that he's very, very young ..."

"I didn't win my first Order of Merit until I was 30 in 1993. It is more difficult the longer it goes on. It is easier if you can win it the first time.

"He's been in contention a few times now and hasn't taken advantage.

"It does get more difficult and the competition around him is also becoming better and better. It will be interesting to see how he reacts when Tiger gets fit again.

"Padraig Harrington has taken advantage of that but then who is to say that he wouldn't have won them anyway. It is disappointing for Sergio not to have taken advantage though."

It was a pleasure to meet the real Monty. Whisper it quietly, but he's actually a really nice guy.

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This article first appeared in February 09's Fairway to Green Magazine; see more from our sister publication via www.fairwaytogreen.com