Monty Matchplay Memory: West Course Wonders

By Colin Montgomerie

08 July 2010 16:47

EVENT: The 1999 Cisco World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.

RESULT: Won, beating Mark O’Meara 3&2 in the final.

THE STORY: Playing some of the best golf of his life, Montgomerie was 29 under par for his 99 holes, which contained only four bogeys. It was his sixth win in 14 events in Europe, equalling the modern record of Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo. “This is special,” he said at the time. “There is the word ‘world’ in the title and to be champion of anything with ‘world’ in it means a lot to me. I knew I was never far enough ahead against someone who can play and putt like Mark can. I lost in the final to Ernie Els in 1994 so it was nice to get back and be victorious.”

MONTY’S MATCHPLAY TIP: I’d just won my second PGA in a row, so I was beginning to enjoy Wentworth. I was favourite to win and I had the crowd on my side which is very important. I’m not saying they were against Mark, they weren’t, but they were certainly giving me wonderful support. At Celtic Manor, 90 per cent of the crowd are going to be pulling for us and I know that gives us a massive advantage. I think when it comes to amateur matchplay, I know you don’t have a crowd there, but if you can get some support in an important match it can be very beneficial. Consider getting a friend to caddie for you because that feeling of being a “team” can make the difference. I know that if you feel people are pulling against you, then executing the right shots can prove more difficult.