Lali Stander
GEORGE, South Africa (18 January 2012) - Former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie arrived in George on the eve of launching his 25th European Tour season at the Volvo Golf Champions at the Fancourt Links in high spirits and hungry for success.
Monty walked into his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday sporting a wide grin, a spring in his step, a brand new set of Callaways, and the kind of positive attitude that underlined his ambition to return to the winner's circle.
Away from the anguish of the golf course, Monty can be quite funny and charming, but behind the torrent of jokes and self-deprecating quips, it's clear that the 48-year-old is determined to collect some more silverware before he is forced to the senior circuit.
Monty certainly does not believe his fighting days are over and challenging in the elite field of 35 players in this "Champion of Champions" tournament has provided the 2009 Ryder Cup captain with renewed inspiration.
"I think we are all saying the same thing this week," he said. "The more fields we have of 35 players, the better, I think, provided I'm in it.
"I think it's a great idea. It saves me having to beat another 120 others. It's just fantastic."
This week at The Links could well kick-start a surge back up the rankings; even playing with 21-year-old golf prodigy Tom Lewis is not deterring the stalwart.
"He's had a great start to his professional career and it's great that we have him in the field," Monty said.
"I thought I was the oldest in the field playing with the youngest, but Matteo Manassero is younger. I'm looking forward to playing with Tom. I haven't played with him before and I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets around a golf course, especially one of this standing. And I look forward to the challenge of trying to finish ahead of him."
But, joking aside, Montgomerie is quick to admit that it will take a momentous effort on his part to get back to his winning ways.
During a stretch where he recorded eight Order of Merit titles, his stroke average was always around the 69 mark, but for the last six seasons it has never dipped below 70.
The Scotsman did finish ranked 17th in driving accuracy on the European Tour last year, but was well down the list when it came to consistency and putting excellence.
Returning to Callaway after an eight year gap has certainly given him a boost ahead of the season.
"I had most of my success in the 90s with Callaway equipment," he said. "I won five Orders of Merit in a row with Callaway. I've seen the equipment and what's to come and made the decision to go back.
"It's a little bit back to the future, really and I'm really excited about using the equipment this week in particular and onward.
"I'm hitting the ball well, especially tee to green. The irons are good, too. I'm driving the ball safely and if I can hole the putts.... I know I have to putt very, very well to compete with the longer hitters out there. They have a huge advantage over me with some of the length that they hit the ball.
"So, if I'm winning or contending to win, I have to putt well. If I can hole out inside ten foot, that's what it always takes. I've never won a tournament not putting well. So I'm going to go back to the room and practice some more putts and find ways to try to get the ball in the hole.
The competitive juices are still flowing strong and, if the Scotsman can find his touch at the Gary Player designed Links, there is every chance he could add to an impressive haul of 31 European Tour titles.
"This is an exceptional course," he said. "I heard it's ranked number one in South Africa, which really means it's ranked number one in Africa, and deservedly so. I think it's an exceptional golf course and a great design, and I enjoy the challenge of it.
"So, yeah, I'm looking forward to the year ahead and looking forward to trying to win. That's the goal. Just trying to win. I really want to try and win out here again."
