ESPN.com - Golf Online - US Open Men 2000 - Relaxed Montgomerie looks for next step

By Greg Robertson
ESPN Golf Online
Thursday, June 15

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- The image Americans have of Colin Montgomerie is a scowling, sourpuss grimacing over his latest misfortune on the golf course.


	Colin Montgomerie believes even-par will win the tournament.

But the Montgomerie who arrived at Pebble Beach for the 100th U.S. Open is a jovial, relaxed man looking forward to another major.

Then again, it's only Wednesday.

Montgomerie returns to the site of his first U.S. Open, one of three close calls he's had in the championship. He tied for third in 1992 at Pebble Beach, three shots behind Tom Kite, who survived brutal winds on Sunday to hold off the early finishing Montgomerie.

"In '92, I came here for my first U.S. Open, didn't know what to expect and I did rather well," he said. "I'm a better golfer now. I strike the ball much better, I feel I'm stronger, I'm mentally stronger than I was and technically a better player than I was. And hopefully that will help."

So will that translate into victory?

"The trouble is, the 150 other competitors have improved as well, so I haven't gained anything really," he deadpanned.

Montgomerie has done more than improve since his first appearance at Pebble Beach. He arrived for his first U.S. Open with just two wins on the European Tour. That number is now at 30, with seven consecutive Orders of Merit to his credit.

"I feel that I have been through certain situations in majors now where nothing much would surprise me," said Montgomerie, ranked third in the world. "I've been in playoffs. I've lost by shots. I thought I'd won this one. I've been through enough to learn, hopefully, and to be able to cope with any situation."

One worry Montgomerie won't have this week is his swing, something that always has come naturally to him. And Montgomerie knows he's blessed in that regard.

"It's as simple as taking aim and hitting," he said of his swing mechanics. "I don't think about anything on the golf course. ... There's not much there at all. I've always had the ability to just stand up and hit a ball."

That was evident in 1992, when he posted an even-par 288 on Sunday and waited several hours to see if it would hold up. That's didn't happen, as Kite and Jeff Sluman both finished in the red to deny Montgomerie a major.

Still, Montgomerie has to have positive feelings about returning to Pebble Beach knowing his game is better. So is it one of his favorite courses?

"It might be," he said with a wink, "if I win."