HSBC Premier Golf Network
The changing face of golf
By Colin Montgomerie
11 June 2010 16:41
From Asia to the Olympics, rampant technology to rising stars, Colin Montgomerie’s opinions are worth listening to.
Colin Montgomerie is one of the most articulate and thoughtful players in the game. The 2010 Ryder Cup captain has been travelling the world playing golf for more than 20 years, in which time he’s seen some significant changes. He admits the sport he plays now is very different to the one in which he started – from advancing equipment and course design to the emergence of Asian players and golf in the Olympics. There were no shortage of topics to discuss when we sat down with Colin to get his thoughts on the state of the game.
Who has impressed you most of all the emerging young talent around the world?
Matteo Manassero turned pro at the Italian Open and he has a fabulous future ahead of him. I can’t believe he’s only 17. Crikey, I was doing my bloody O Levels at that age (laughs). And he makes the cut at the Masters. A fantastic effort because amateur champions haven’t done very well there in the past. All credit to him. He’s the future. Great times for Italy. And don’t forget the Molinari brothers (Edoardo and Francesco) are the World Cup holders.Europe has Rory McIlroy. Asia has Ryo Ishikawa and America has Rickie Fowler.
So who will be the next Tiger?
I don’t see anyone who will dislodge him at this stage. Tiger is unique. There is no Next Tiger. You’ll have players who will come through to be the best in the world but I don’t think they will be in Tiger’s class.
Who will step up in the next five years? If Lee Westwood has the desire, he’s capable. He is ready to win a Major. It was a great effort to shoot under par in the last round of the Masters playing with the home fans’ favourite, Phil Mickelson, and he also played well at The Players. Padraig, Henrik and Sergio are world-class, too, and I have always said Paul Casey can get to the top of the tree. And then there is Rory, Alvaro Quiros and Martin Kaymer. Speaking as Ryder Cup captain, we are lucky to have them as Europeans because they are future world-beaters.
You have been a globetrotting golfer for 25 years. Has it been an education or a chore?
In a way, I have travelled the world without seeing it: you know, airport, hotel, golf course. But I do think travel is the best education. You learn more about cultures and society than you ever can in a classroom. I have often thought of hanging a big map on the wall and sticking a pin in every place I’ve been to.
Which country is the next golf superpower?
Korea. Definitely. Korea will dominate golf in the future. Closely followed by China. With golf getting back into the Olympic Games, it’s going to help Asia have a golfing boom over the next 10 years. The Koreans already dominate the Ladies Tour. They are obsessed by golf. KJ Choi almost gave Korea back-to-back Major winners in April. Wow. He was close at the Masters (Choi finished tied 4th with Tiger Woods). This is the start of it on the men’s game. YE Yang has followed up his victory at the 2009 US PGA by winning the Volvo China Open this year against a really strong field.
Can you see a time when the USA will be overtaken as the biggest golfing nation?
Oh yes. China is already doing it economically. So why not in the sports world, too? It has already achieved that in the Olympics. It came top of the medals table at the last Olympics. And I’ve just opened a course in Vietnam that offers free coaching on Saturdays for the locals. Now there are 85 million Vietnamese. There is no reason why they can’t become a dominant force in the next 20 years, too.
