Kern: Montgomerie having major success on Champions Tour

FOR A GOOD PORTION of his Hall of Fame career, Scotland's Colin Montgomerie always seemed to be such an easy target. On and off the golf course. From galleries and media alike. Especially for someone who was one of the planet's best ball-strikers for well over a decade.

For many it didn't matter, more so on this side of the Atlantic. To them he was "Mrs. Doubtfire," a nickname he openly despised. Can you blame him? Before the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black on Long Island, a golf magazine famously launched a "Be Nice to Monty" campaign urging the notably loud New York fans to, well, make like it was Ellis Island. Not that it really worked. And so it went.

Maybe it was his supposedly sour personality. Or the fact that he wasn't one of us. Whatever. Some folks couldn't get enough of his apparent misery, which he did little to disguise. Again, hard to fault him, though it usually takes two sides to create a rift.

He became arguably the best to never win a major, even though he had his openings. It's a dreaded tag that Sergio Garcia now wears like an anchor. Jack Nicklaus actually awarded Monty the 1992 U.S. Open on national television even though eventual winner Tom Kite was still playing. Turned out to be premature congratulations. Still, everyone figured it was mostly a matter of when.

Then he lost the 1994 U.S. Open in a three-way playoff at Oakmont, where he wore a dark blue shirt for Monday's extra round in sauna-like conditions. He lost the 1995 PGA Championship in a sudden-death playoff. And the 1997 U.S. Open by one stroke, as he bogeyed the 71st hole. He finished a distant second to a fellow named Tiger Woods at the 2005 British Open. And he lost the 2006 U.S. Open that Phil Mickelson would later toss away, by one, when he closed with a bogey after switching clubs before his approach shot and missing the green.

It was that kind of ride. I remember how many times I actually pulled for him, because I sincerely thought it would make for the best story. Hadn't he suffered plenty?

It could be difficult to watch. Or comical, depending upon your perspective. He never won a PGA Tour event. Yet while all that was going on, he was winning a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles and 31 Euro tournaments, the most by any British player. More importantly, he was arguably the best Ryder Cupper ever for his continent, which meant everything in that neck of the globe. And he took great pleasure, as he should have, in beating up on the Americans in that ultra-intense cauldron, where pride is the only thing on the line. It became his lasting impression.

Now, nearing his 53rd birthday, he's on the Champions Tour, where he's already won three senior majors (but no non-majors). And he doesn't appear to be that guy anymore. Who says life can't change? Isn't that what the game's ultimate mulligan is supposed to do?

The Constellation Senior Players Championship, the third major of the season, gets going Thursday at Philadelphia Cricket Club's recently-restored Wissahickon Course in Flourtown. Montgomerie is among the headliners, looking for his first victory in just over a year. He arrived about three hours later than originally anticipated for his pre-tournament availability on Tuesday. Travel happens. No harm, no foul.

That's how the world spins, when you reach AARP status. It's all good.

Maybe, in time, we truly can all get along.

"Here we are," said Monty, who spent last week at home to celebrate his father's birthday, which included playing their home course, Royal Troon, site of next month's British Open. "I'd heard good things about the PGA Tour Champions, (as) we call ourselves. All I can say is those thoughts and those expectations have been beaten hands down.

"There's no great egos out here. Everyone's made it to a certain extent. That's why we're here. There's no envy, as such. Everyone seems genuinely delighted with everyone else's success. It's more relaxed. There's an appreciation for us from the fans, and we appreciate them. I think generally it's by far the best tour I've ever played on."

Would he have thought he'd be making such a bold statement, say, 15 years ago?

"Not at all," he went on. "I was in the middle of trying to get to No. 1 in the world. So there's other things on my mind. You see 50 as a long way off. Now I'm glad it is here."

Monty finished second two weeks ago in the PGA Seniors - which he was trying to win for the third straight time - three behind Rocco Mediate. In April he had back-to-back fourths. So something's obviously agreeing with him. He's certainly smiling a bunch. And you know what? It looks good on him.

"I feel very welcomed," he said. "There's a warmth here, of respect I suppose. What's gone on before, c'mon, that was when we were growing up. It's not forgotten, but it's been respected more as we get older. I think I'm doing so well because I'm thoroughly enjoying myself. I really am.

"I think (before) I wasn't so giving of myself, and I think the fans went along with that. So we were both to blame, to be honest. Now I think they're great, and I'm in a better place too.

"I've found that in the major championships I've contended in recently out here that there seems to be as much support for myself as the popular American players. All I can say is thank you. It helps both sides. We all learn. We all get wiser, hopefully. If you don't, you've missed out sometimes."

He'll play with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Vijay Singh in the first two rounds. Marquee pairing. They'll head out at 10:48 Thursday morning.

"It's another chapter, isn't it?" Monty said. "The book's definitely on the back nine, but it's nice to have different chapters. And it's nice to open up a new one. The way this is going, it could be a new book, never mind a new chapter. That's why I'm probably doing better than I thought I might."

Who says it couldn't have a happy ending? But does it make up for that one void from his previous existence?

"My first Senior major (win), two years ago, playing with Bernhard Langer (the two-time defending champ in this one) in the last group, it was the same feeling," he said. "And it's nice to feel that. The fans might think they're not (real) majors. I'm competing against the same guys I used to compete against, so there's not much difference really.

"I'd like to think these count. And I certainly do, because I never won one before. But it's yes and no. At the same time, I wouldn't change anything."

Spoken like someone who already has.

@mikekerndn