Heckling is hurtful admits Monty
SHUT i t out. Stay focused. Do not let the buggers grind you down. All fairly standard advice for a European golfer on the receiving end of boorish abuse f r om t anked- up American galleries.
Ask those in the line of fire, meanwhile, and they will usually mutter something about drawing inspiration from it. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?
Colin Montgomerie is not buying any of it, not having been the victim of so much unsavoury heckling in America in his prime.
It could be argued that he lost the 1997 US Open on the strength of getting embroiled i n an argument with an abusive spectator during the second round, given that before and after the i ncident he comfortably outplayed the field.
Delving into his own pained experience in search of advice for fellow Ryder Cup warrior Ian Poulter — currently No1 target for the Yankee doodle ding-bats — the Scot confesses that those barbs stick to even the toughest shell.
‘It doesn’t help,’ said Monty, who has been saddened by recent heckles for both Poulter and Sergio Garcia at the Players Championship — as well as the utterly moronic shout in Justin Rose’s backswing which cost him the chance of victory at the Memorial tournament last week.
‘Ian Poulter would tell you that it just spurs him on to play better. But it doesn’t help, definitely not. You hear it, of course you do.
‘Ian has got to put it behind him and get on with the job, as I was always told to — especially by Phil Mickelson, who I used to share a locker with.
‘I hope that Ian can win quickly and put it all behind him. America loves winners and it’s a sort of back-handed compliment that the crowds are getting on Ian’s back and giving him some grief.
‘That’s what I was told, although it certainly didn’t feel that way at the time. I was told they wouldn’t bother me if I wasn’t any good or a threat — and Ian’s both of those.
‘Part of it is down to his brilliance in the Ryder Cup. I suppose that also didn’t help me playing in America. It was a difficult time.
‘Now I’ve turned 50, that seems to be forgotten. I apologised to the spectators, explained that it was my job to win for Europe — and we get on well nowadays.
‘But it will be good for Ian when he manages to win a stroke play event over there. He has been leading some recent tournaments and I’m sure he will win one soon.’
Montgomerie wi l l be at Chambers Bay for this week’s US Open in a dual role, having earned a spot in the field by way of his US Seniors Open win, but also maintaining his commitment to Sky Sports. When he is not out on course or on the range, he will be i n the box providing obvious i nsight i nto a venue already drawing criticism from players.
With his pundit’s hat on, the Ryder Cup legend can hardly wait to see world No1 Rory McIlroy take on the links-like track, with the presence of fellow youngsters Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler — and the perennial US Open bridesmaid Mickelson — only adding to his excitement.
‘I think Rory will get to Chambers Bay and immediately be in contention, I really do,’ he insisted. ‘I think the rest that he’s having now is good for him and I think he’ll bounce back in a hurry.
‘Jordan Spieth is also playing very well, as we saw at the Masters. Rickie Fowler is confident, after his win at Sawgrass, and he wants to get back onto the major trail again.
‘I really think this could be a great US Open played on a unique course. I’m sure that it will be very competitive at that top end.’
Mickelson only needs the US Open to complete a career Grand Slam of major titles, although Montgomerie stressed: ‘ As the years go by, the pressure mounts.
‘He has been runner-up six times now. It’s amazing. It’s a shame that he hasn’t managed to win a US Open, because I know how much he loves the tournament.
‘It is becoming more difficult for him. He’s not getting any younger but I’ll tell you, nobody starts a US Open with the sort of passion that he invariably does.
‘Again, my locker will be close to him and I’ll see him and I’ll wish him well. You talk about career Grand Slams, I think he would deserve one really.
‘To win all four majors is very special in someone’s career and not many have done it. I think he would be a deserving candidate.’