Golf: Thanks for abusing me - Montgomerie

Colin Montgomerie is glad he gets abuse from some American fans because it means he is still a threat for major titles.

The seven-time European number one had threatened to quit playing in the States after being heckled during his first round World Matchplay defeat to Scott McCarron, the latest in a long line of run-ins with spectators.

The 39-year-old eventually changed his mind however and stated earlier this week he would continue to play in tournaments across the Atlantic, starting with the Players’ Championship at Sawgrass in two weeks.

And the Scot takes it as the ultimate back-handed compliment that he continues to be the target for abuse some of it so bad it forced his father to leave the course at the Ryder Cup at Brookline in 1999 from American galleries.

‘‘The better you get and the more threat you become, as I have over the years, the more difficult it is,’’ said Montgomerie ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic which begins at the Emirates Club on Thursday.

‘‘I’m seen as a threat and I’m glad I’m seen as a threat, I’ll never deny that. It just makes it more difficult. It’s easy for others to say ignore it, you have to be in that position and have to cope and the Ryder Cup in ’99 was a sign of that.

‘‘Speak to Paul Lawrie, because his eyes were opened I can assure. We did well together (winning two-and-a-half points out of four) but his eyes were opened to what goes on within that situation.

‘‘It’s just because I’m a threat and I don’t intend to lose that thank you very much.’’

Montgomerie acknowledges that he is not the only player to suffer such problems, and Ernie Els admitted that it ‘‘can get nasty at times,’’ particularly when competing against Tiger Woods when the world number one is on a charge, as he was on Sunday in the Genuity Championship won by Els.

And although he has received assurances from the USPGA Tour and tournament promoters that everything in their power will be done to deal with the problem with troublemakers ejected from the course and increased security he believes only winning on American soil, and probably a major championship, would solve the problem.

Asked if there was anything else he could do, Montgomerie simply said: ‘‘Win.’’

He added: ‘‘I’ve come very close and winning would finish it. And that’s why I go, every time I tee it up I’m there to win or else if I didn’t think I could win I wouldn’t bother.

‘‘There are ways of dealing with it and I felt I dealt with it very well at the Ryder Cup (in 1999). The more aggravation was shown the better I became and I’ve got to get into that mood swing again.

‘‘We have been in touch with the USPGA and the tour and have been given assurances and I’m looking forward to going back to the TPC. It’s one of the best tournaments in the world.

‘‘It’s difficult to say (how close he was not going back to America). How can you possibly think about not competing in three of the four majors in the year? It makes it a bit difficult to win one! Nigh on impossible.

‘‘That was never on the agenda but the thing that annoyed me the most was that this was the first round of a tournament with very few spectators, what would happen if that was a semi-final against somebody better known? That’s what threw me the most.’’

Montgomerie is honest enough to admit that he has sometimes not helped the situation by reacting to some of the comments, and believes one occasion in particular could have cost him that long-overdue major title.

‘‘I made an error of judgement at Congressional (in the US Open in 1997, where he eventually lost by one shot to Ernie Els), that possibly cost me that major,’’ admitted Montgomerie, referring to his confrontation with a spectator as he walked off a green during the second round.

‘‘I was playing great there. That was a difficult time after a rain delay and that was a mistake and I admit that.’’

Montgomerie, who was speaking at the official launch of the course he has designed in Dubai, ‘The Montgomerie’ at Emirates Hills, won the Dubai Desert Classic in 1996 and is looking forward to competing over the immaculate Emirates’ lay-out.

‘‘I’m actually playing quite well, and my back is fine,’’ he added. ‘‘I’ve had time off and worked out in my swimming pool at home, it’s a great way of getting physical exercise.

‘‘I have to do daily exercises or I’d have to stop. The pool is fantastic rehab for any part of the body or back that has not been working properly.

‘‘I’m looking forward to playing here. Any time you come back to a course where you’ve won, you feel you can do it again and although the standard has improved hopefully I’m improving along with it. The course is in great shape, they’ve lengthened a few holes considerably and it’s a much tougher and better test of golf than ever.’’