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Monty gives U.S. another chance
Posted: Saturday April 06, 2002 8:52 PM
By Scott Michaux
The Augusta Chronicle
Among the many titles Colin Montgomerie's biography will not be, An American Love Affair is at the top of the list.
The scowling Scot and his scolding stateside abusers have never enjoyed a great romance. Spats have flared up with inebriated hecklers at U.S. Opens, PGA Championships, Ryder Cups and other events.
The most recent squabble arose at the World Match Play Championship in California, where Monty stormed away after his first-round ouster by Scott McCarron and vowed never to return to the United States.
"I just don't need this anymore," he said, adding that if he was getting heckled at a relatively "low-key setting, what would happen to me on the 17th hole of a major? Would I even be allowed to take back the club? Would someone run across the green and snatch my ball away from me?"
Instead of the Full Monty (or Half Monty, as his recent 30-pound weight loss has reduced him), would we see no Monty in the three U.S. majors? Instead of Mrs. Doubtfire, as he was once dubbed, would he be Mr. Doubtful?
The short answer is no. After his most recent declaration of his growing resentment of all things American, he was coaxed off the ledge by an unusual outpouring of support.
"I got phone calls from players and golf fans and fantastic support," he said. "And that's what changed my mind, really. And as you say, so far, I'm glad I came."
Not only has Montgomerie returned, he has become ubiquitous. Despite skipping Bay Hill and disappointing tournament host Arnold Palmer, who went out of his way two years earlier to play with Monty to ensure no abusive fans, Montgomerie entered three consecutive events leading into the Masters.
"Very positive, indeed, and I'm glad to see that," Monty said after an uneventful first round upon his stateside return to The Players Championship. "There's no reason why that shouldn't remain."
There's even less reason why it should have grown into such a problem to begin with. Montgomerie is often an affable fellow, quick at distributing British wit. But his hearing and emotions have proved overly sensitive on the course.
McCarron said Monty brings much of the trouble on himself, and other players agree.
"I just think it's the way he handles it," said Chris DiMarco. "I think he could be a little bit more fun about it. It's like the nickname you get in high school: if you let people know that you don't like it, then it's just the more reason they are going to call you it; if you dismiss it, it kind of goes away."
Said Scott Hoch: "He's had a tough go of it over here, and I can sympathize with him because I'm not a real popular player over in England. As if I am here. Let's just say some of the crowds have been very rude to him over here, and that's unfortunate because he's too good a player for that to happen."
Monty further exacerbated the most recent situation by taking a few pointed jabs at America and its sports fans.
"There's only one thing worse than losing and that's spending another day in your country," he spouted to one spectator as he left the Match Play.
To reporters, Montgomerie said the incidents were "all the usual material. Without turning around, I knew I could accurately predict the appearance of these kinds of fans - shorts, tennis shoes, T-shirt, cap on backward, holding a beer. I was correct."
Montgomerie had significantly softened his tone during his U.S. return at The Players Championship. Without actually apologizing to Americans for his characterization of rubes, he did back off a bit.
"I'm sure we all regret certain things we have done in our lives," he said. "I'm sure you're probably the only one that's perfect here. I'm certainly not and we all regret some things we do and say and act and what-have-you in public position. But at the same time I'm glad I'm here and I'm glad I'm playing well."
If he can get past the heckling, he can more adequately address a couple other pressing issues: his lack of a PGA Tour victory or a major championship. But to do that, he has to keep entering.
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