Away from the US Open, a holed 30-footer from Steve Elkington did for Monty in the USPGA of 1995, while he also had a second place behind Tiger Woods in the 2005 Open at St Andrews. Mind you, it was not a close second. Though he was in the picture over the first half of the final round, Tiger gave him a mauling over the back, eventually winning by five.
The main thrust of Montgomerie’s excellent speech on the night of his Hall of Fame Ceremony came as no surprise. It was about those lost majors, the ones that got away. "I’ve enjoyed thoroughly my exploits in major championships but I just haven’t been fortunate, or whatever it takes," he began.
"There’s always a time when fortune comes into the mix, whether it be for you or against your opponent and it so happens that I haven’t had the fortune to walk through the door. It has been ajar many a time. I just haven’t been able to walk through it."
The door to the Hall of Fame is another thing again. Though Jacklin and Floyd, to name just two, may not have voted for him, 51 per cent did. And maybe, just maybe, that 51 per cent were taking into account the fact that Monty makes more waves than many of those who have a major or majors under their belts.
The invitation landed on his doormat and there is surely no one so curmudgeonly as to think he should have turned it down.
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