Monty - the hero of the Belfry

Goodbye Mrs Doubtfire, hello man of the people.

Colin Montgomerie, once known chiefly for his ability to berate an entire grandstand with one flick of his jowls, today completed the kind of resurrection the Conservative Party could only dream of.

Only weeks after stomping out of Muirfield claiming he could not hack it anymore, the Scot has emerged from an enthralling 34th Ryder Cup with reputation not just enhanced, but rocketed onto an entirely new level.

And no-one, perhaps even those who once cruelly compared Montgomerie to Robin Williams’ matronly creation, could begrudge him his glory now.

But then, we should have known something spectacular was about to happen this week.

This was not the Monty we knew and loved. This was not the old curmudgeon who seemed to spend half his time getting upset, and the other half looking for something to get upset about.

This was not the man whose lolloping swing could be distracted by an ant’s cough four fairways away.

This was not the man whose on-course persona so jarringly conflicted with the witty, amiable and cheery Monty that – we were assured – existed anywhere where balls, tees and greens were not.

Here, suddenly, was a man who would break out into an infectious smirk at every opportunity. Previously, only course records and albatrosses would force the Monty half-smile.

The crowds, so often the very aim of his vitriol in the past, hollered him round the doglegs and whooped his every shot.

Monty himself was in full flow, even beckoning spectators down from the galleries for a playful hit on the range.

And of course, with Montgomerie seemingly at peace with all around him, glorious golf seemed to seep out of his every pore.

As ever, much had been expected of him, given his experience and wealth of success on the European Tour.

That hope has always been tempered in Montgomerie’s case, however, by the justifiable feeling he has persistently underwhelmed on the very biggest stages.

Not this time though. In forging rock-solid partnerships with, initially, Bernhard Langer, and then Padraig Harrington, Montgomerie trampled through the star-studded American line-up, resisting all that was thrown at him to emerge - with 3 1/2 points from a possible four – as the most successful individual from the opening two days.

But even then, the best was yet to come.

Striding out to the first tee with the kind of purpose usually reserved for military parades, Montgomerie begun Europe’s attempt at banishing their history of dismal failure in Ryder Cup singles.

His opponent, Scott Hoch, looked resigned to defeat before he had even shaken hands with the starter. He was simply steamrollered.

Putt after putt sunk without trace, and on the 14th green, with Montgomerie an incredible eight under for his round, Europe had their first point of the day less than three hours after it had started.

The others did their stuff as the home continent regained the trophy in stirring fashion, but there was no doubting the star – Monty, the re-born hero of the Belfry.