Another tragic episode in Monty soap opera

Daft golfing accidents could happen to anyone, couldn't they? Loren Roberts once had to withdraw from an event because of a broken rib caused by a sneeze. Steve Pate missed out on a tournament when he was sitting peacefully on a bike and a runaway deer suddenly careered into him from nowhere.

Yet when it comes to The Open, you sense that only dear old Colin Montgomerie could suffer the sort of farcical end to his championship hopes that materialised here at Royal St George's. The way he told it was wonderfully tragi-comic, seeming to sum up his entire 13-year experience in the event that just keeps taunting this one-man soap opera.

"I came out of my hotel for breakfast. I couldn't believe it was raining, I looked up and missed the first step and fell nastily. I tried to break my fall on my right hand," he explained gravely. It wasn't funny but somehow you had to smile because it was poor old Monty. Another Open calamity, but this time even before he'd managed to have his cornflakes.

Last year, at least the torment lasted until Sunday when he sprinted round the course at Muirfield like a big kid who was still sulking after his calamitous third round.

This time, just the day after he had joked about winning the event by five strokes, the torment only lasted seven holes and one shot before the hopelessness of trying to grip his clubs with his injured right thumb forced him to quit.

It was the sort of sorry tale which will only strengthen the belief of the many who have given up on this wonderful golfer ever winning a big one. Now, 40, this was his 49th major and, as he sought to determine the extent of his injuries today - the fall also left him with severe bruising to his knees - he wasn't even sure if he would be fit for his 50th at the US PGA at Oak Hill next month.

Denis Pugh, his long-time coach and friend who has been trying to help get Montgomerie back into the world's top 10, knew that the cynics would probably have this picture of Monty moping around at home in Oxshott today feeling sorry for himself. Forget it, he said; the man would just return more determined than ever.

"He was really fed up, probably just wondering what he has to do in this event or whether he's jinxed. Yet Colin doesn't mope, he just gets on with it and fights back," Pugh told Standard Sport.

"He has an ability to withstand setbacks that would drag others down and is much more resilient than he sometimes appears.

"I know him better than those people who write him off. Look at it coldly, forget personal opinions. He played bloody well in Lytham and Muirfield in the last two Opens and clearly still has the game to win. Even now when he's in full flow he can reach a level that only Tiger (Woods) and Ernie (Els) know about.

"Golf has a great way of repaying its debts; in many ways, the majors owe him one. He's had four or five when he's been genuinely unlucky, and others when he's got himself into a good position only for others to play great. All the time he carries the knowledge that he's actually never blown a major. Psychologically, he's just as strong."

One defining triumph like this, reckoned Pugh, might tempt Monty to call it a day, though he knows his ambition is to bow out as captain, non-playing or otherwise, of Europe's Ryder Cup team in Dublin in 2006.

"Yet, actually, I think he can play for longer than three more years. He hasn't got one of those combustibletype swings which is going to burn him out or injure him and his bad back has been taken care of," said Pugh.

"I really do feel he'll get a major because he's such a dangerous man to write off. He's let himself down a bit in the US majors in recent years, but I rather fancy he still might win our Open. Perhaps he'll get it when everyone actually starts looking at him and says 'there goes yesterday's man'."

Some already are doing that. Yet Pugh is adamant that those who see Montgomerie's latest disappointment as being somehow representative of a spoilt character who simply lacks the 'bottle' for the very biggest events don't appreciate his steeliness and professionalism.

"When he gets criticism, he accepts it. Not always with good grace, but he accepts it," said Pugh. Occasionally because he's Monty, he blows up and when he does, he causes problems which he always immediately regrets. We're all human and he wears his heart on his sleeve but he's a great professional.

"He's an easy guy to work with because when he's away from the competition he's a charming guy. He's vice-president at Wisley and all the members there say 'he's a really nice guy' as if they were expecting to meet some child-eating demon."

Before going out yesterday, after Monty's injury had been iced, Pugh asked him whether he thought he could still win.

"He just gave a rueful smile which seemed to suggest no, but even if he knew it was hopeless, he wasn't going to ever say no because he is a fighter, whatever people think," explained Pugh

Pugh reckoned that Monty always looked to the example of Mark O'Meara, who's still going strong here at 46, having shot a very competitive 73 yesterday.

The veteran American had always looked to be destined to miss out on the glittering prizes too until he won both the Masters and The Open in 1998 when he was 41.

That's the same age that Montgomerie will be when he attempts to win on his beloved home Troon links next year. As long as he watches his step, what more inspiration could he have?

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