Colin Montgomerie claims ex-Premier League star could play on Champions Tour

Colin Montgomerie believes former Premier League footballer Jimmy Bullard has the game to compete on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.

Bullard, 47, is best known for his time as a charismatic midfielder for the likes of Wigan, Fulham and Hull City during an entertaining playing career.

But the Englishman’s passion ever since hanging the boots up in 2012 has been on the fairways. Between 2014 and 2016, Bullard made five starts on the now defunct EuroPro tour, recording a highest finish of tied 22nd.

Last year on his return to the mini tours, he finished 30th in a one-round event on the developmental Clutch Pro Tour. Many golfers, including Lee Westwood and Ewen Ferguson, have both lavished praise on Bullard, who showcases his game on the ‘Golf Life’ YouTube channel alongside brothers Andrew and Peter Dale.

In their latest video, over a leisurely nine-hole match alongside Montgomerie, the former Ryder Cup captain is asked about Bullard’s possible credentials to compete on an elite over 5os circuit in three years’ time.

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“That’s a good question, isn’t it,” he replied. “That’s a good question. Very little you have to work on. You’ve got great hands. You’ve got good speed. When you talk about 111, 112 miles an hour club head speed – that is PGA Tour stuff, never mind Champions Tour stuff.

“So, you’ve got the speed. You’ve got the length. You know how to compete which is key – you want to compete. You want the challenge, don’t you? That’s what it is. You want the challenge, and you are good enough to compete. This is the first time I’ve played nine holes with you, and I’ve been very very impressed.

“Very impressed with everything; the putting, and stroke is superb. What you’ve got in your hands – the educated hands we call it in our game. I tell you what, three years, what are you 47? Give it a bash. I think you’d regret it if you didn’t.”

Montgomerie, who has made three starts this year on the highly competitive Champions circuit, even talked up the possibility of Bullard coming up against some of the game’s greats in the future.

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“It would be fantastic for the viewers to watch and to see you competing against the likes of a Darren Clarke or a [Miguel Angel] Jimenez or an Ernie Els or a [Fred] Couples or [Steve] Stricker,” the Scotsman added. “Tiger Woods? He’s 50 in December.

“When the draw comes out, and you’ve had a good day, you’re a couple under, which is easily achievable. And he’s had his two under. Draw comes out: Jimmy Bullard, Tiger Woods! The viewing figures… Come on now! Superb. Let’s hope he does come out on our Tour. He’s the needle of our game, as he has been.

“He’s the Messi and Ronaldo of ours all mixed into one. It’d be fantastic. Amply good enough.

“If you’re asking the question to me – who hopefully knows a little about the tour – I’m telling you, you are plenty good enough to compete with the legends of the Champions Tour. Already. And that’s without the next three years of giving it loads of graft.”

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.