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Can Colin win Carnoustie? Expectations high for Monty after Loch Lomond win
Posted: Sunday July 11, 1999 01:42 PM
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) -- Colin Montgomerie hated being reminded he had never won a title before his adoring fans in Scotland and had never won a major. After Saturday's masterful, three-stroke, come-from behind triumph at Loch Lomond, maybe that elusive first major is just around the corner at Carnoustie. "One gone, one to go I suppose," the 36-year-old Scot said after his victory at the 1 million pound ($1.6 million) Loch Lomond tournament marked his first win in Scotland. "This is very special to me, coming from this side of Scotland and winning here in front of such superb and knowledgeable crowds. The support I had was unbelievable." Montgomerie looked almost unbeatable in his final round at Loch Lomond when he collected nine birdies in 12 holes to make up a four-stroke deficit, overhaul eight players ahead of him and win by three. "I can only go into the British Open with confidence and that's what many players can't say," he said after his third tournament victory of the year put him well in course to finish the PGA European Tour as the leading money earner for the seventh year in a row. "Monty Magic", "Flying Scot wins in birdie charge," and "Monty Opens up," cried the headlines on Sunday as Scotland, and Britain, looked ahead to the possibility a first home triumph at the Open since Nick Faldo's third title in 1992. But history will tell Monty that winning the pre-Open event doesn't bode well for the championship itself. Although Montgomerie's confidence will be high, he's gone into majors with similar form only to fail badly. He'll remember all too well what happened at Troon two years ago when he went to the Open course where his own father was the secretary. Montgomerie had lived barely 150 yards from the first tee and has played the course as a youngster. Huge galleries followed Montgomerie's opening round and he struggled to a 76. Although he followed that with good scores of two 69s and a 70, the damage had already been done and Monty slipped away a well beaten man as Justin Leonard took the title. Last year at Royal Birkdale, Monty missed the cut for the fifth time and his best finish in a tie for eighth in 1994 at Turnberry. Another problem for Montgomerie is that playing target golf at tree-lined Loch Lomond, which has been likened to many American courses, is totally different from playing links courses where the wind blows in from the sea and many of of the shots have to be played low, "bump and run" style. And then there is the huge level of expectation on Montgomerie's shoulders. Monty is the host nation's biggest hope to wrest te title from the Americans who have won it four years in a row and his performance at Loch Lomond has excited the Brits. While trying not to build up his own expectations of Carnoustie, Montgomerie couldn't help savoring the moment of his win at Loch Lomond and his brilliant scoring. "How could I possible feel any better than I do right now," he said. "But's it's difficult sometimes and I've got to be careful. "You tend to think that sometimes the game is easier than it is and you get to Carnoustie and starting attacking and you get yourself into a problem. "My first victory on the Tour was in Portugal in 1989 and I won by 11 shots," Montgomerie said. "I thought golf was very easy until I got to Valderrama the next week and opened with an 82."
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