Colin Montgomerie: European Fans Turn a Blind Eye to His Faults

Throughout his career, Colin "Monty" Montgomerie has been referred to by fans, players, and the media simply as "Grumpy."

If a fan is breathing too loudly, he will stand there and ream him out in front of the entire gallery. If he is angry about his play, Montgomerie walks off the green before his playing partners have finished putting out.

For those who are familiar with the game, this is just about the most disrespectful thing that you can do in tournament play.

He complains publicly about course layouts and pin placements. He complains publicly, like he did at last year’s Masters, about the invitations given to players that he happens to disagree with.

He is, to say the least, not the most likable character in golf. 

However, now that Montgomerie has been chosen as the 2010 European Ryder Cup team captain, it is as if all European fans have simply turned a blind eye to the fact that he has spent a career whining and complaining about virtually anything you can imagine.

Sitting third on the list of all-time European Ryder Cup points earned, Monty is without question one of the greatest European Ryder Cup players of all time. For that reason, he is all but owed a Ryder Cup captaincy.

So even though it might have been somewhat of a surprise that he was chosen as captain for the 2010 Ryder Cup, it should come as no surprise that Montgomerie will appear as a team captain.

The big surprise of the whole situation is how virtually everyone has decided to overlook all of the antics he has displayed over the past 20 years of his career simply because he has now been chosen as team captain. 

It is as if a new law was passed in the European Union stating that it is now illegal to mention any of the many personality faults that Monty has displayed over the course of his career.

Montgomerie will certainly have his hands full at Celtic Manor in 2010. The European team is still reeling from their shocking defeat at Valhalla.

There are also some team unity issues with the ongoing war of words between Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington. 

Despite its defeat at Valhalla in 2008 and the current team unity issues, the Europeans would still have to be considered the favorite in 2010, as the matches will be played on their home turf.

Hopefully for the European team’s sake, the rough at Celtic Manor will be just as high as Monty wants it, the crowd will have stapled their lips closed on the way in, the pin placements will be up to his specifications, no members of the media will ask him a tough question, and none of his players will miss a short putt.

Otherwise, "Grumpy" is very likely to revert to his old ways, displaying those same personality traits that have been present all along, but which many have made the conscious decision to simply forget.