Scotsman Colin Montgomerie says he has discovered a new lease of life after joining the over-50s circuit, as he goes in search of his fourth Senior Major Championship at this weekend’s US Senior Open Championship.
Montgomerie is one of 156 golfers vying for the US Senior Open at Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio, and is hoping to win the trophy for the second time following his victory in 2014 at Oak Tree National.
The 53 year old admitted he was surprised by the standard of play of his competitors, including former Ryder Cup teammate Bernhard Langer.
“I didn’t think I was going to play senior golf, I must admit,” said Montgomerie. “I wasn’t excited about turning 50.
“And then I did turn 50 and still had this ambition, and drive and competitive edge. I was playing on the European Tour and in the odd Major here and there thinking ‘I’ll probably stop when I’m 55’. But this has given everybody that comes out here a new lease of life, a new chapter in one’s book.
“I thought at 50 you began to lose your nerve, and these guys weren’t great putters. I was well wrong there. The putting is incredible, and they’re not wasting any shots.
“You watch Bernhard Langer chip and putt. I’ve watched him for 35 years. He takes long enough to do it so there’s time to watch him, and it’s amazing how he doesn’t waste a shot, and that’s key, that’s the momentum that keeps going for the next hole.
“I got to World Number Two in the 1990s, and I believe I’m a better chipper and putter now than I ever was. I still have the belief. I believed I could win in the ‘90s, and I believe I could win now too, so that hasn’t changed. You’ve got to believe.”
Despite recording five top ten finishes on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit, including a runner-up finish at the US Senior PGA Championship, Montgomerie doesn’t believe his form in 2016 has been up to scratch.
“I was actually playing very poorly the first four or five months of this year,” he said. “Although I qualified for The Open and made the cut, that was only because of local knowledge.
“I was playing particularly badly. I was drawing the ball, hooking the ball, pulling it left. Now I’ve got that straightened out. Last week [at the 3M Championship], I didn’t putt the way I should have done but played remarkably well through the green.
“Bringing that form here is vital. So I’m looking forward to it. This is, I hate to say, the start of my season.”
