Sometimes in golf, there are players who excel in certain formats of the game but when it comes to the crunch, they just can’t quite get the big trophies won.
Over the years, we’ve seen countless players achieve so much on the PGA or European Tour but in the end, they’ve fallen short of winning the majors.
For most golfers, winning major championships and also contributing in Ryder Cups are the two biggest achievements that can happen.
For some, doing both comes quite easily, as we’ve seen with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and now, Scottie Scheffler.
However, when it comes to looking back at the history of golf, some of the game’s greats have succeeded in one element but failed at the other.
And when it comes to Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie, that’s exactly how he’ll be remembered.
How Colin Montgomerie starred in Ryder Cups but never won a major
For anyone who has followed golf over the last few decades, seeing Colin Montgomerie not be on the list of major champions is something of a travesty.
Montgomerie was in contention so many times and even finished as runner up five times in the US Open.
More pain would follow for Montgomerie, who finished second in the PGA and Open Championship.
However, while Montgomerie suffered in the majors, his Ryder Cup was something else.
In eight appearances for Team Europe, Montgomerie was a near unstoppable force, never losing in singles competition. In fact, Montgomerie won six of his eight singles matches as a player, before leading Team Europe to glory as captain in 2010.
Montgomerie is also one of Europe’s leading point scores, landing 23.5 points from his total of 36 matches, putting him third all time for Team Europe.
So, while the majors might not have been ‘Monty’s’ thing, it’s safe to say the Ryder Cup was very much his bag.
The leading points scorers for Team Europe in Ryder Cup history
Colin Montgomerie very much has legend status among the European golf scene and his fifth place on the all-time points list shows why.
Still, there are two better than him and some how in the eyes of others, may rank higher when it comes to overall contribution.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia is the top point getter of all time for Europe, with 28.5 points and with him being in contention for 2025, he could extend that lead further.
Next up is the legendary Sir Nick Faldo with 25, and with his six major wins thrown in, he has an argument to being the best European player of all-time.
Bernhard Langer and Lee Westwood trump Montgomerie as well with 24 points, while Billy Casper is level the with the Scot on 23.5.
Regardless, Colin Montgomerie is one of the greats of golf and while he never got that major, he can more than hold his head high.
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