YOU’RE JUST PILING ON MORE PRESSURE
Montgomerie warns McIlroy over US plan
Augusta is huge for him. It’s a big deal to win all four majors
RYDER Cup legend Colin Montgomerie believes Rory McIlroy is putting even more pressure on himself in a bid to win The Masters and complete a career Grand Slam of major titles.
But the nine-time Order of Merit winner says the Northern Irishman has earned the right to ditch his European Tour membership in favour of an even more uS-centric schedule — even if it does rule him out of a future role as Team Europe skipper.
McIlroy currently has just two regular European Tour events on his schedule, explaining last month that he wanted to spend all of early 2019 in America as he builds towards Augusta National in April. Montgomerie sees the logic behind the move by a player who famously threw away a four-shot lead in the 2011 Masters — and is yet to land a coveted green jacket to go with his Open, uS Open and uSpGA titles.
‘Rory has been his own man, making decisions managementwise, caddy-wise,’ said the Scot.
‘And he’s tried to get it right. I mean, he’s won four of these things (majors) already.
‘It does put extra pressure on, though. Every time he goes to Augusta, there will be that pressure. Greg Norman had it, trying to win at Augusta. He couldn’t do it from six shots ahead.
‘Rory was four ahead and couldn’t do it. The more he goes there, the more he doesn’t do it, the whole idea of playing there in these non-European events to get the game honed just for Augusta… he puts the pressure right on himself. Sometimes, you just turn up on a Wednesday morning and go for it, you know?
‘The Augusta thing is huge for him. After he didn’t win this year, it just gets difficult to get up again — even for the uS Open. And he’s won that. It’s a big deal to win all four majors.
‘He’s come in for criticism from some parts. But we are self-employed and he feels the best way for him to progress and win majors is in that environment in America, where there are three majors.
‘We’ll see if that decision bears fruit. The European Tour will be disappointed, we all are, because he and Justin Rose are the biggest draws.’
under current rules, while McIlroy can continue to play for Europe in the Ryder Cup, giving up Tour membership bars him from becoming a captain or even vice-captain.
Montgomerie, who led the Europeans to victory over the uSA at Celtic Manor back in 2010, believes that is unlikely to have featured much in his thinking.
‘He’s probably hoping that, in 20 years’ time, that rule might have changed. But I don’t think he’s interested in captaincy right now,’ said Monty.
‘He’s interested in winning as many majors as he can. The captaincy for McIlroy is off the charts, time-wise. That’s understandable.
‘It’s good for the European Tour when our guys are winning majors. Nick Faldo’s majors were great for the tour, so were Seve’s, 11 between them. It was a great time.
‘We also had Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle back in the late 80s and early 90s when we dominated.
‘It’s more sparse but, if Rory goes and wins a couple and Justin Rose, too, Europe’s on a bit of a high again.
‘The other players benefit from their success. Mr Average European Tour player is hoping Rory does very well.’ Montgomerie also singled out Rose as one to watch next year, pointing to his recent record of 25 top tens in 32 tournaments. ‘That’s better than Tiger Woods was at his peak, in terms of top tens,’ he said. ‘Tiger won more. But that is as consistent as anyone has been for years. I mean, that is really good.’ Rose is ending his 20-year link-up with club manufacturer TaylorMade in favour of a deal with relatively unknown Japanese company Honma.
Montgomerie, who raised eyebrows when switching from Wilson to Callaway just two Order of Merit wins into his domination of the European game, said: ‘It puts a wee bit of pressure on Justin but, if he keeps swinging like he does, he can use a broomstick.’
Colin MontgoMerie was speaking at a golf clinic at edinburgh’s Braid Hills golf Centre, hosted by sponsors Aberdeen Standard investments.