Colin Montgomerie claims third senior major

• Monty successfully defends Senior PGA Championship
• Scot has now won three of the last six over-50’s majors
• “It was very tiring mentally as well as physically.”

Colin Montgomerie is now a three-time major winner on the over-50’s circuit after successfully defending his Senior PGA Championship title at French Lick in Indiana.

The 51-year-old, eight times a winner of the European Tour Order of Merit, carded a three-under 69 in his final round to finish four clear of Mexican Esteban Toledo. Monty had led by three going into the last round, after shooting a two-under 70 on day three.

The victory was the former Ryder Cup-winning captain’s third in the last six senior majors, following his wins in the Senior PGA and US Senior Open last year, and he admitted afterwards that it had been a grind to get over the line.

“With every hole out there, there was a potential double-bogey threat,” said Montgomerie, widely regarded as one of the greatest players never to win a major in the regular men’s game. “I could never relax. I could never relax at all. It was very tiring mentally as well as physically for me. Every shot had to be executed properly or else you’re in trouble.”

Montgomerie also reserved some praise for the PGA of America for what he called a ‘perfect set-up’ of the Pete Dye-designed golf course.

“The rough was penal enough but you could still get forward with it,” he added. “The fairways were wide enough but not too wide. It was a perfect set-up for a Senior PGA Championship of this ilk and I was just thrilled and honored to be a top of the leaderboard at the end there.”

“You have got a few years where by you’ve got to get the job done and this was one of them.” – Colin Montgomerie

After finishing second or tied second on no fewer than five occasions in the regular majors, Monty believes that learning to become more patient has helped him prosper in the senior game. However, equally, he knows he will have to make hay whilst he can, with new players joining the circuit all the time.

He added: “I know there are some great players coming on to the Champions Tour over the next few years. That always happens, we get an influx of 48, 49-year-olds that are coming up on 50. So, you know that you have got a few years where by you’ve got to get the job done and this was one of them.”

Colin Montgomerie :: How many more can he win?

Following his latest Senior PGA Championship victory, Colin Montgomerie now has three senior majors to his name – but how many more do you think he will win? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor