Monty set to Master Valderrama again

COLIN MONTGOMERIE reckons he will have only about 30 players to beat at this week’s Volvo Masters — even though there are nearly twice that figure taking part.

The end-of-season event at Valderrama is what prompts the seven-time European number one to make such a statement. And as someone who has never been afraid to voice his opinion he sees no reason to change now.

"Half the field have lost before the start," said Montgomerie, a believer that the harder the course the better his chances.

"That is why it's one tournament of the year I always look forward to, but in particular this year because my game is right there, which I'm thrilled about."

He knows from personal experience that if you are unfamiliar with the Costa del Sol lay-out, or off your game, it can punish you.

Montgomerie's first visit was in 1988, when the Volvo Masters had a halfway cut. He missed it with rounds of 77 and 79.

Twelve months later, he had just won his first European tour title in Portugal, but Valderrama brought him back down to earth; rounds of 81 and 72 for another early exit.

Things improved the following two years when he finished eighth and 15th, but he had yet to break par in any round and that stretched to 13 when he opened with a 76 in 1992.

A 70 the next day was a breakthrough moment and a closing 69 got him into a play-off with Sandy Lyle on three over par. Yes, three over par.

That play-off was not one of the happier moments of Montgomerie's career. His drive down the 10th hole was pulled left so badly that it smacked into a tree not many yards off the tee and that effectively was that.

We could not know it then, but that was to be Lyle's last tour victory for 13 years, maybe ever, and nor could we know that Montgomerie was about to embark on a marathon spell when he dominated the European scene.

His first Order of Merit title came back at Valderrama in 1993 when he had to win the title to dethrone Nick Faldo.

At last he felt he had cracked the course and the money list title was presented to him there for the next three years as well, most notably in 1995 when he had to play the last nine holes in one under to edge out Sam Torrance.

The event moved to Montecastillo in Jerez for five years after that, but when the Volvo Masters returned two years ago Montgomerie, trying to preserve a record of at least one win in Europe every year since 1992, tied with his Ryder Cup partner of that year Bernhard Langer and they shared the title when darkness fell.

By then, of course, his run of Order of Merit crowns had ended and the task this week is somewhat different from that golden era.

If Montgomerie falls from his position of 28th on the money list it will represent his worst season in Europe since 1988, his first full year on the circuit.

"I've won this year (in Singapore in March), but I'd like to win again," he said.

"I'm trying to get into the top 20 and get going again. I will I'm good enough it's just a matter of time."

The importance he put on being Europe's number one for so long affected his marriage and 2004 is the year it finally fell apart.

Since the Open in July Montgomerie has lost 40 pounds.

He may not have as much on his body, but there's been a lot on his mind.

But Montgomerie will also remember the season for the determination he showed to play a part in another Ryder Cup triumph and the support given to him not only by fans, but also by his team-mates, who urged Langer to give him a wild card.

He was magnificent in Detroit, taking Europe over the winning line again, but he wants to move on from that and show that at 41 he can still be a force on his own.

It should be noted that, that is the same age as world number one Vijay Singh.