This Scotsman with a fierce temper for which the British tabloids love him is best known in India for losing to Gaurav Ghei. Chances are Colin Montgomerie has few fans. He usually comes across as an arrogant and angry man who is not afraid to voice his opinion when things don't go his way. Europe's number one now feels he could be ready to retire after he gets his hands on any of golf's major championships.One of the best golfers to have never won a major, Montgomerie has come close on many occasions. At the 1994 US Open, he lost to South African Ernie Els in a playoff. A year later, he was defeated by Steve Elkington, in sudden death for the USPGA Championship. In 1997, Montgomerie came close to winning the US Open but again Els took home the trophy.This golfer has numerous other accomplishments. In 1998, he was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire). He has won seven successive Volvo Order of Merit titles and was recently voted Asprey & Garrad Golfer of the Year for the fourth time in fiveyears. While Tiger Woods made a record $6 million in prize money on the USPGA tour, Montgomerie holds the record for European tour earnings 1,822,880 pounds.A frank and precise person, the 37-year-old has a reputation for picking on spectators. Rumours have it that he once asked a young mother why she couldn't leave her baby who was wailing home. If there's a mobile phone ringing during play, you can count on him sending the security in search of its owner.Inspite of having played most of his golf in US, where he spent four years in college, he is among the few who favoured promoting the European tour rather than turning to America. And even though his contemporary and friend Nick Faldo has moved to the USPGA Tour and youngsters like Jesper Parnevik follow suit, Montgomerie has stayed.Whether he wins a major or not, he has fared better than Ian Baker Finch or Severino Ballesteros major champions who lost their touch some years later. Montgomerie has been misunderstood because of his search forperfection. This trait has enabled him to reign over the European tour. One day like Ballesteros he may captain the European Ryder Cup team or achieve his desire to make the European tour one of the most successful tours in the world.Results last weekUSPGA (Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Winner): Jesper ParnevikELPGA: Mercedes Benz OpenWinner: Mathias GronbergLPGA: Subaru Memorial of NaplesWinner: Nancy ScrantonSenior PGA Tour: MasterCard ChampionshipWinner: George ArcherAustralasian Tour: New Zealand Open ChampionshipWinner: Micheal CampbellComing UpUSPGA: AT& Pebble Beach National Pro-AmSenior PGA: Royal Caribbean ClassicEPGA: Greg Norman Holden InternationalBuy.Com Tour: Buy.Com Florida ClassicLPGA: no event scheduledELPGA: no event scheduledGolfer of the week: Paul Azinger
