Colin Montgomerie is hoping the Welsh public can help inspire him to a clean sweep of the Major Championships on the European Senior Tour as he bids for an historic treble at this week’s Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex.
The Scot has the chance to become the first European player – and only the second in history after South African Gary Player in 1988 – to add the Senior Claret Jug to victories in the US Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid and the US Senior Open.
It is the first time The Senior Open Championship has been played in Wales, at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, coming four years after Montgomerie memorably led Europe to Ryder Cup glory at The Celtic Manor Resort.
The eight-time European Number One - who is drawn alongside US Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson and former Masters Champion Fred Couples for the first two rounds - can be assured of a warm welcome from the Welsh golf fans on his return, and he is hoping to repay them with another performance to remember at Royal Porthcawl.
“The Welsh spectators were worth a point (at The Ryder Cup), and that's what it took to win,” he said. “I think it will be a very well supported championship this week, and we look forward to big crowds. I have a particularly big group. I've got to watch my P's and Q's tomorrow. I'm playing with Tom Watson and Freddie Couples, so I'm looking forward to that personally and just staying ahead of them, I'll be doing well.
“Everyone is excited here. I think this is the first of many, hopefully, that we play here in Wales, and we are all looking forward to it. Everyone is.”
Having made his debut in The Senior Open Championship with a share of 21stplace at Royal Birkdale last year, Montgomerie has gone on to enjoy considerable success on the Senior circuit, winning the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters at Woburn last year before claiming the 2014 season’s first two Major Championships.
He is hoping to keep that momentum going on his return to links golf and become the first European since Bernhard Langer in 2010 to win The Senior Open Championship.
“You wait 23 years to win in America, or win a Major, and two turn up at the same time,” he said. “I knew I had gained confidence from the first win. I did play well at Benton Harbor in the US Senior PGA and it gave me confidence to go into the US. Senior Open and perform there.
“I didn't play as well there as I did at Benton Harbor, but the conditions were very severe conditions. And I'm not saying the wind or rain; I'm talking heat. It was amazing.
“So this is very different. This is a whole different ballgame. This is like coming from Roland Garros on the clay to the grass at Wimbledon. This is very different and you have to adapt accordingly to the conditions. This is fiery and this is a true links test of golf.
“This is the first time I've been west of Cardiff anywhere ever in my life and it's a delight. The weather is great. The golf course is in great condition, super test of golf, and everyone is excited by this Championship here this year.”
Montgomerie is rightly proud of his double-success in America this season, but admits winning The Senior Open would be particularly special.
“At 51 I can't afford to get picky,” he said. “Anything that comes along my way I'll take, and this is no different. And it would be great if it's in Wales. Of course, we had a lot of fun and excitement and success in Wales over the years of leading up to and during The Ryder Cup here four years ago, and I would love to come back and try and repeat a victory actually playing. I've actually brought my clubs to Wales this time, as opposed to when I came down to The Ryder Cup, I didn't have any clubs in my car. That was weird.”
