Senior golf has given Monty sense of purpose
in his 50s ... 'a reason to get up in morning'
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Colin Montgomerie expected to be spending his fifties in contented retirement at his Perthshire home and basking in the reflective glow of an illustrious career as a superstar professional golfer.
The reality is somewhat different. Rather than searching for the pipe and slippers, the 52 year old Scot will be pulling on the sweater and golf shoes tomorrow to head off in search of another historic moment on the European Senior Tour.
Montgomerie, the ultimate competitor, will tee off in the Travis Perkins Masters at Woburn Golf Club intent on becoming the first player to win the same title in three consecutive years on both The European Tour and now the Senior Tour.
A warm favourite to capture the title over the Duke’s Course at Woburn, having been successful by six shots in 2013 and a massive ten strokes 12 months ago, Montgomerie revealed why he is still chasing birdies and eagles instead of putting his feet up – 15 years after winning the last of his three successive PGA Championships.
“It’s the competition that drives me on,” he insisted. “I thought I would be retired by now but I discovered that you need a sense of purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Some people put on a suit; I put on a golf sweater and go out to work. Senior golf has given me a fantastic sense of purpose.”
Montgomerie added with a smile: “I think I was causing my wife headaches at home so she encouraged me to go out and play golf again. She knows how competitive I am and I just said to myself: why not give it a go? I love competition even more than I love the game of golf. It’s what drives me on.
"I felt I was treading water between the ages of 45 and 50 so this is a new and exciting chapter in my life. I aim to go on for as long as I am physically and mentally able to do so.”
After back-to-back victories in the Travis Perkins Masters, Montgomerie is relaxed at wearing the favourite’s tag but admitted: “The standard of golf is very high and I’ve got to be at my best to win. It’s quite an accolade to win any tournament three times in a row, as I know from my three PGA Championships at Wentworth between 1998 and 2000. I would love to add the Travis Perkins Masters to that list of accomplishments this week.”
Woburn’s narrow, tree-lined fairways have always been to the Scot’s liking. He won the British Masters over the same Duke’s Course in 1998 and his two successes in the Travis Perkins Masters contained five rounds in the sixties alongside one of 70.
However, his list of challengers has been increased by the welcome addition of Paul Broadhurst to the Senior ranks. The Englishman turned 50 on August 14 and promptly won last week’s Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open on his debut event.
“I hadn’t seen Paul for years until bumping into him yesterday” said Montgomerie, who is drawn with Broadhurst and Roger Chapman in the first round. “It’s great that he turns 50 and goes out and wins. I look forward to playing with him and to the challenges ahead.”
Among Montgomerie’s challengers is another familiar face in Australian rookie Peter O’Malley, who covered the last five holes in seven under par to edge out the Scot in the 1992 Scottish Open at Gleneagles.
Also in the strong field is Ireland’s Des Smyth, a two-time winner of the Travis Perkins Masters in 2010 and 2012. He said: “Next to the Open Championship, the Travis Perkins is the best event we have. The crowds always come out for us and the atmosphere is fantastic.
“Having won twice, the tournament is definitely one of my favourites. It’s a straight hitter’s course, there is no doubt about it. You have got to drive the ball well, otherwise you can get into all sorts of trouble. If you’re driving it off-line you can shoot high numbers very easily.
“I’ve always played well here. I got two wins out of three so that can’t be bad. I guess it’s a course that suits my eye. Certainly, I always feel comfortable here and am looking forward to this week.”
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
in his 50s ... 'a reason to get up in morning'
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Colin Montgomerie expected to be spending his fifties in contented retirement at his Perthshire home and basking in the reflective glow of an illustrious career as a superstar professional golfer.
The reality is somewhat different. Rather than searching for the pipe and slippers, the 52 year old Scot will be pulling on the sweater and golf shoes tomorrow to head off in search of another historic moment on the European Senior Tour.
Montgomerie, the ultimate competitor, will tee off in the Travis Perkins Masters at Woburn Golf Club intent on becoming the first player to win the same title in three consecutive years on both The European Tour and now the Senior Tour.
A warm favourite to capture the title over the Duke’s Course at Woburn, having been successful by six shots in 2013 and a massive ten strokes 12 months ago, Montgomerie revealed why he is still chasing birdies and eagles instead of putting his feet up – 15 years after winning the last of his three successive PGA Championships.
“It’s the competition that drives me on,” he insisted. “I thought I would be retired by now but I discovered that you need a sense of purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Some people put on a suit; I put on a golf sweater and go out to work. Senior golf has given me a fantastic sense of purpose.”
Montgomerie added with a smile: “I think I was causing my wife headaches at home so she encouraged me to go out and play golf again. She knows how competitive I am and I just said to myself: why not give it a go? I love competition even more than I love the game of golf. It’s what drives me on.
"I felt I was treading water between the ages of 45 and 50 so this is a new and exciting chapter in my life. I aim to go on for as long as I am physically and mentally able to do so.”
After back-to-back victories in the Travis Perkins Masters, Montgomerie is relaxed at wearing the favourite’s tag but admitted: “The standard of golf is very high and I’ve got to be at my best to win. It’s quite an accolade to win any tournament three times in a row, as I know from my three PGA Championships at Wentworth between 1998 and 2000. I would love to add the Travis Perkins Masters to that list of accomplishments this week.”
Woburn’s narrow, tree-lined fairways have always been to the Scot’s liking. He won the British Masters over the same Duke’s Course in 1998 and his two successes in the Travis Perkins Masters contained five rounds in the sixties alongside one of 70.
However, his list of challengers has been increased by the welcome addition of Paul Broadhurst to the Senior ranks. The Englishman turned 50 on August 14 and promptly won last week’s Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open on his debut event.
“I hadn’t seen Paul for years until bumping into him yesterday” said Montgomerie, who is drawn with Broadhurst and Roger Chapman in the first round. “It’s great that he turns 50 and goes out and wins. I look forward to playing with him and to the challenges ahead.”
Among Montgomerie’s challengers is another familiar face in Australian rookie Peter O’Malley, who covered the last five holes in seven under par to edge out the Scot in the 1992 Scottish Open at Gleneagles.
Also in the strong field is Ireland’s Des Smyth, a two-time winner of the Travis Perkins Masters in 2010 and 2012. He said: “Next to the Open Championship, the Travis Perkins is the best event we have. The crowds always come out for us and the atmosphere is fantastic.
“Having won twice, the tournament is definitely one of my favourites. It’s a straight hitter’s course, there is no doubt about it. You have got to drive the ball well, otherwise you can get into all sorts of trouble. If you’re driving it off-line you can shoot high numbers very easily.
“I’ve always played well here. I got two wins out of three so that can’t be bad. I guess it’s a course that suits my eye. Certainly, I always feel comfortable here and am looking forward to this week.”
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Labels: Pro seniors
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, September 03, 2015
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