Colin Montgomerie is one of Scotland’s most recognisable and successful sportsmen.  He has won the European Order of Merit eight times, including an amazing seven times in a row from 1993-1999, as well as being a true Ryder Cup legend, having secured a record eight out of eight wins for Europe over the Americans.

Most recently, alongside compatriot Marc Warren, Monty lifted the World Cup Trophy for Scotland after a dramatic final hole play-off over (once again) their American opponents.

‘Monty’ is, without doubt, one of Scotland great winners, so when In The Winning Zone got the chance to catch up with him for a chat, we jumped at the chance before you could shout ‘Fore’ and send a little white ball into the distance. 

This is, in full, what he had to say for himself.

WZ: Hi Colin, thanks for taking the time to chat to us.  Who or what inspired you as a young man into becoming a top player?

CM: I just wanted to play the sport I love full time as my profession, and was lucky enough to be successful.  I admire lots of golfers – Seve Ballesterous, Nick Faldo and of course the greats such as Jack Nicklaus but I think I would credit my dad as the single person who most inspired me to go for it. I needed his support to get the opportunity to try my hand at professional golf and he has always been behind me 100%. Much of the motivation does come from within though.

WZ: What are the traits necessary to become a champion in your sport? What would you say have been the key reasons behind your success?

CM: Competitiveness and thriving under pressure are key ingredients to being a professional golfer. I am very competitive in everything I do and that is what motivates me. I wouldn’t keep playing if I didn’t start each tournament believing I can win it.

WZ: How important is plain old hard work and practice?  Does it differ from a recreational golfer to a professional?

CM: There is no replacement for hard work and my fellow professionals such as Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington have fantastic work ethics and their success is, in part, down to the confidence and consistency that practicing long hours gives them.

I practiced far harder in the early stages of my career – I am more of a feel golfer than a technical one and as such, if I over-practice, it doesn’t feel so natural and I can get stale. If something isn’t going well in my game then I would obviously work hard on it to sort it out as, at the end of the day, I am a perfectionist. But, for me, nothing beats the thrill of competition.

WZ: Where does intelligence, self-belief and mentality come into your sport?  At the top level, does the ability to out-wit or psyche-out your opponent count for a lot?

CM: Self belief and intelligent course management are certainly key in golf but generally we play stroke play events and they are about playing the course, not an opponent.

Even in match play it doesn’t become personal with your opponent, although I do enjoy the one-to-one nature of match play. It is still very much about playing the course though –  you can take more risks than you do in a stroke play event.

WZ: How does the dynamic differ in your game when it comes to team-play?  You have enjoyed a lot of success in this discipline in the Ryder Cup and World Cup Trophy.  So why do the Scots, and the Europeans, seem to be better at team-play than their American counterparts?

CM: I really don’t know – I think the set up of the European tour – whereby we all usually stay in the same tournament hotel – means we see a lot more of each other throughout the year ,whereas it is a bit more spread out when you go to play in the States.

It is difficult to pin point exactly why our team spirit is so strong. Personally I really enjoy the cut and thrust of match play and it just seems to bring out the best in my game. 

WZ: How would you define the term ‘winning mentality?’

CM: In golf, I think that would come into play when you are having an off day, when things don’t feel right but you manage to stay mentally tough and grind out a good score. There is no one better at this than the number one golfer, Tiger Woods.

WZ: How much attention do you have to pay to your lifestyle in this modern era?  Are nutrition, hydration, proper rest and conditioning essential to the 21st century golfer?

CM: I am a lot more knowledgeable about nutrition and fitness than I used to be and although I am certainly a long way from being a fitness fanatic, I do go in the gym regularly and when I am playing in hot weather, I am far more diligent about keeping hydrated than I used to be.

WZ: Is coaching important to you?  How much reliance do you place in a coach to get you to the level you want to be?

CM: Coaching is important but I don’t think you can rely on anyone but yourself when you get out on the course.  I would certainly advise any amateur to invest in lessons as it is far easier to learn the right habits than undo the bad ones you form without coaching.

WZ: How would you define ‘winning’?  What makes someone a winner, and can anybody be a winner?

CM: I think a winner is about being the best you can be. If you fulfil your potential in anything and try your hardest to achieve the most you possibly can and never give up, then you are a winner in my book.

WZ: Thanks Colin.

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