Monty Matchplay Memory: The Winning Putt

By Colin Montgomerie

08 July 2010 16:19

EVENT: The 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills.

RESULT: Holed the winning putt in a record 18½-9½ victory.

THE STORY: Leading 11-5 going into the final day, Europe needed 3½ points to keep the Cup. After a challenging year off the course, there was no more appropriate man to hole the winning putt than Monty. All-square with David Toms after 15 holes, he birdied 16 to move ahead, holed a six-footer on the 17th to stay in front, before holing from six feet on the last to spark jubilant scenes. Asked immediately by the BBC what the moment meant to him, he said: “Emotional I guess. Yes,” he nodded, his eyes filling with tears.

MONTY’S MATCHPLAY TIP: My Ryder Cup performances have been my Major, if you like. Of the 24 playing, one will get the opportunity to hole the winning putt. Now, whatever business you’re in, opportunities will come around and you want to be able to take them when they do. I had learned some techniques to help me deal with things like that, like breathing properly. I felt OK, confident, and I achieved that by breathing deeply and giving myself confident feedback. So many negative thoughts can creep in when you have a pressure moment like a winning putt. You can have 10 thoughts in a split second and if one of them is negative, you’re going to miss. I mouthed the words to myself – and you can see this on the video – “I’ve done this thousands and thousands of times.” I didn’t let a negative thought creep in.