THE DAY I SAW MONTY CRUMBLE
Poulter on the 2006 US Open: Colin was in middle of the fairway at 18 and took SIX to lose ..every time he sits with tea & biscuits he must have NIGHTMARES
IAN POULTER had a firsthand view of the last US Open winner at Winged Foot, but has never got close to speaking to Colin Montgomerie about the craziest finish in Major history.
Montgomerie needed only a par at the 72nd hole to win his first Major title in 2006, but closed with a horrible double bogey.
Reigning US PGA and Masters champion Phil Mickelson also took a six at the last and has still to win the US Open.
And Jim Furyk failed on a five-foot par putt to also miss a play-off by a single stroke.
It left Australian Geoff Ogilvy – who was playing with Poulter in the final round – to land a shock win on the “brutal golf course” after parring the final four holes for a winning score of five-over par.
Ryder Cup legend Poulter, who will tee up the 120th US Open back at Winged Foot today, recalled: “That was crazy
– I remember it well. There was a great atmosphere. I wore an all-pink outfit and someone shouted, ‘It’s Father’s Day, not Mother’s Day’.
“Geoff holed a chip across the green on 17, which was defining in his victory. I don’t think the chip would have stayed on the green – it would have gone at least 10ft past and would have definitely changed the outcome of the event.
“But in the US Open generally you are hanging on for dear life. And parring the last few holes is a major feat in itself.
“Then Monty doesn’t get up and down from the middle of the fairway – he hit a terrible second shot – and Mickelson hit a massive block slice into the trees, hits it into the bunker and then makes double. I was in the clubhouse when the other guys unravel led and I congratulated Geoff. I have never spoken to Monty about it. No, thank you. I am sure you haven’t highlighted it to him, either.
“I am sure when he sits down at night having a cup of tea and a nice shortbread biscuit, it still brings back nightmares, so I am going to leave that one to you.”
Kenny Ferrie, who played the final round with Mickelson after sharing the 54-hole lead, recalled the American left-hander hit only two fairways out of 14, but still led after 17 holes.
He said: “Watching Phil was like watching someone who was superhuman. To be standing on the 18th at two-over, it was one of the best rounds of golf I’ve ever
HIT & MISS Mickelson has plenty to ponder as Geoff Ogilvy (also, left with Poulter) holds cup
I was wearing all pink... a fan shouted: It’s Father’s Day... not Mother’s Day seen.” Until his 18th hole meltdown led to one of his six runners-up finishes at the US Open.
Tommy Fleetwood, who was watching the event back home with his dad, recalled: “There are only two things anyone remembers and that is Mickelson and Monty on the last.
“To be fair, Monty is still now one of my favourite golfers and it would have been great to see him win a Major – it was one of the most unexpected finishes.”
The Major has continued to attract controversy with penal course set-ups and dodgy greens.
Poulter said: “They take it to the limit sometimes and in the US Opens we have seen it cross that line. It is disappointing how we have to put up with that.”