Colin Montgomerie

Colin Montgomerie contemplated one last Royal Troon swansong but instead chose to preserve the precious memories he made at his home course in 2016.

Hailing from South Beach Road, the Montgomerie family home was just five doors away from the famous Ayrshire track, the venue for The 152nd Open.

After navigating Final Qualifying at Gailes Links in Irvine eight years ago, ‘Monty,’ as he is affectionately known, booked a date with destiny at the course where his father, James, was once Club Captain and later Secretary.

His appearance that week - highlighted by five front-nine birdies following a double-bogey at the 1st - remains his last in a major and it’s an experience he holds among his dearest across an illustrious career.

“My fondest memory of Troon was standing on the first tee in 2016 at 53 years old having qualified, which was not easy,” he said.

“It was the first time that Martin Slumbers [the CEO of The R&A] started the first tee honour at 6.35am and that was a memory I’ll always take away with me.

“To start it off as an honorary member at my home club was a big deal for me. The whole thing was a buzz and to see the crowd building as early as 6am, you think ‘what’s going on here?’

“It was superb, every shot I hit was really special. One of the reasons I didn’t try to qualify this year is because I want to keep that positive memory of The Open at Royal Troon.”

The fanfare surrounding Montgomerie set the tone for an epic week and, for many, one of the best in Open history. Indeed, The 145th Open is best remembered for the famous head-to-head between Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson, with the Swede shooting a record 20-under-par to claim his first major win.

“They fed off each other,” recalled Loch Lomond Whiskies ambassador Montgomerie. “For Mickelson to shoot 65 on the final day and lose, it’s incredible.

“It’s the first time since the Duel in The Sun [when Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus famously battled it out at The Open in 1977] that we had anything like that and all credit to both of them, it was incredible scoring and that happens once in a generation.”

As someone with deep knowledge of Royal Troon, Montgomerie believes the key to a successful week is managing both sides of the course.

“Troon comes to life and is all about the back nine,” he said. 

“There’s only one hole that comes back into the wind on the front nine and that’s the shortest hole in Open history [the famous eighth, the Postage Stamp] so every hole is down breeze.

“If you’re not three or four-under at the turn, you’ve got a long way home. That’s what I said to myself in 2016 and then you have to hold on coming back in.

“Then I realised that 11, 13 and 15 are most difficult and I came home three-over which left me at level-par. That’s the sort of thing that’s going to happen.

“They say Carnoustie has the toughest last three holes, I think Troon’s back nine is tougher overall than Carnoustie’s – I think Troon’s back nine is the toughest on the Open rota, bar none.

“It’s a great test and when you finish your round, you’ll know you’ve played a tough links test.”

The fortunes of two Champion Golfers illustrate Troon’s Jekyll and Hyde nature.

In 1989, Greg Norman shot a course-record 64 to force a play-off with Mark Calcavecchia (the eventual Champion) and Wayne Grady, while Jack Nicklaus made a 10 at the par-4 11th on his Open debut in 1962.

“You stand on the 11th and the whole thing changes,” said Montgomerie. “This is as good as a game of two halves.”

Talk of the Royal Troon test is not complete without reference to The Postage Stamp, the shortest hole played in The Open.

At only 123 yards long, it is an enticing prospect but one that has lured greats of the game to destruction. In fact, the infamous par-3 8th was the only hole Norman dropped a shot on during his course-record round of 64.

That the 8th is memorable goes almost without saying, particularly to those who have worn the scars.

“Everyone says the Postage Stamp is their favourite hole but if you talk to a professional in The Open when he‘s standing on the tee, he’ll be saying get me off this hole because this is a potential card-wrecker,” said Montgomerie.

“You’ve played seven holes down wind and it’s the first hole which comes back into the wind so you’ve been playing the ball forward and up, and suddenly you’ve got to hit one low two hours into your round.

“It’s amazing how much people struggle with that one shot. The coffin bunker on the left-hand side is named that for a very good reason because the lie is so narrow, it’s so hard to get out.

“I always aimed to the right of that and tried to two-putt and get off. If you take four threes there, you’d be quite glad.

“It’s a favoured hole but not with a card and pencil in your hand.”

Montgomerie has provided so many great Open memories over the years and his reception in 2016 evidences his lasting impact on fans.

He may never have claimed the Claret Jug but for his proximity and history with the course, he will forever be indelibly linked to Royal Troon.