As we look back on the illustrious career of golf legend, Tiger Woods, we must consider the impact his dominance had on his contemporaries. Woods, who made his professional debut 17 years ago, has become synonymous with golf, amassing an impressive 79 PGA Tour titles before injuries began to slow him down. He added three more titles to his tally later, including his fifth Masters Tournament until 2019. Yet, for every victory Woods celebrated, another golfer missed out on a chance to etch their own names in the annals of golf history.
In a world without Tiger Woods, professional golfers such as Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Chris DiMarco, Rocco Mediate, and Bob May would have had the chance to secure many more titles. Despite their experience and skill, these players often found themselves overshadowed by Woods’ exceptional talent.
Among those whose careers were ostensibly impeded by Woods’ supremacy was Scottish golfer, Colin Montgomerie. Despite being a celebrated golfer in Europe, Montgomerie struggled to mirror his success on the PGA Tour. This was the subject of a recent discussion between Montgomerie’s compatriot Padraig Harrington and the hosts of the Cookie Jar Golf podcast, Sam and Tom.
Harrington, in his conversation with the hosts, agreed that self-validation as a top player can be both a strength and a weakness. Using Montgomerie as an example, he stated that the Scottish golfer’s career was “killed” by his struggle to establish himself in the United States, despite his dominance in Europe.
Montgomerie was revered in Europe, where he was seen as an unbeatable force. If he was among the top ten on the leaderboard after a few rounds, it was almost a given that he would rise up the ranks to compete for the title. Yet, according to Harrington, Montgomerie was not received with the same fear and respect in the USA, leading to a perceived mistreatment by the PGA Tour.
In 1998, Harrington claimed that Montgomerie was the best golfer in the world, even as Woods was beginning to make his mark. However, Montgomerie was unable to secure a single event win in the States, a fact that Harrington finds puzzling. The lack of recognition and success in the U.S. was a blow to Montgomerie, who thrived on the confidence he garnered from his dominance in Europe.
Harrington, who had a ringside seat to Montgomerie’s games, lauds him for his exceptional accuracy and ball-striking skills. Montgomerie, according to him, was adept at hitting the ball in the middle of the fairway, never needing to worry about bunkers.
The comparison between Montgomerie and Woods is fascinating. In the 90s, Montgomerie was indeed one of the best players globally, boasting an impressive 78% accuracy in hitting the greens on the PGA European Tour. His accuracy peaked at 80.6% during the Volvo PGA Championship, helping him win seven consecutive Order of Merits from 1993 to 1999, with an eighth win in 2005.
However, the period from 1999 to 2003 saw Woods in his prime, amassing an average of 6.4 trophies a year. During this time, Montgomerie managed only a runner-up finish to Woods at the 2005 Open Championship, where Woods led by five strokes. This period underscores the impact a player like Woods can have, not just on the game but also on the confidence and performance of his contemporaries.
The question remains: could Colin Montgomerie have had a more successful career on the PGA Tour if Tiger Woods hadn’t been in the picture? We welcome your thoughts and opinions on this intriguing topic.