Colin Montgomerie Irish Open Golf

Colin Montgomerie has won the Irish Open on three separate occasions in 1996. 1997 and 2001. His last victory in 2001 was won at Fota Island. Today it looks like Montgomerie is on the slide and his golfing career would appear to be running on empty, but in his hay day he was Europe's leading Golfer and would still be a short price in the Irish Open golf odds if he was to return to Adare Manor this year. Particularly after missing the cut in 2008.

In the ninties Montgomerie finished number 1 in the European order of Merit Betting for 7 consecutive years and it was during this time that he won the Irish Open at Druid's Glen in 1996 and 1997.

Colin is without doubt the best match play golfer Europe has ever produced and while Nick Faldo won the majors it was Colin who performed with great distinction in the Ryder Cup, he has never been beaten in the singles in that event which says a lot about the man. He was every bit as much of a team player as he was a individual.

Perhaps his temperament needed him to focus on something else apart from his own game and when he played alongside his partners in the Ryder Cup he could excel.

It remains to be seen if we will ever see the best again from Colin, if we do it will hopefully be at the Irish Open, where he has had so much success in the past.