Product Description

Colin Montgomerie is one of Britain's greatest sporting heroes. He is also something of a paradox. Europe's number one golfer for eight consecutive years, yet he has never won a world title. A key player in two winning Ryder Cup teams, yet he is as famous for his fiery temperament as he is for his incredible golfing talent. Now, for the first time, Colin Montgomerie tells his own remarkable story. He talks candidly about the early days when he found himself studying for a management degree after his family insisted he finished his education; turning professional in 1986; the highs and lows of his career - and the infamous incident in which he threatened a spectator who coughed during his backswing. THE REAL MONTY is Colin's own inspiring story: the triumph and the anguish, the passionate quest for sporting excellence - and the man behind the headlines.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #125104 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Real Monty attempts to redress the balance between Colin Montgomerie's public image and the often forgotten fact that he's a hugely talented, hugely successful international sportsman. You know, that image--chin sunk into his ample bosom, face red with sulky frustration, bottom lip wobbling gently as he stalks off towards his next shot.

Written with journalist Lewine Mair, this is Monty's version of his rise to the top of the tree in European golf--a record-breaking seven-time Tour champion; a star performer in six Ryder Cups--and his struggle to punch his real weight in the US, or at Major level; the hecklers, the tantrums, the remorseless press, and the weight of expectation that has buoyed him up and threatened to drown him in turns.

It's all in the mind of course--spectators, journalists and the golfers themselves have become obsessed with mental strengths and failings, with winning the inner game--and Monty was marked out long ago as having lost crucial contests due to a suspect temperament.

The trouble with such analysis, which Monty is happy to corroborate with regard to specific occasions, is that it makes for such lush, easy media copy that reality can get lost in the long grass. Parts of this lavishly illustrated book find Monty hacking away at that rough, and it's not a pretty sight--but when the score-settling stops, this is a straightforward, open account of what it has been like to succeed and fail, both personally and professionally, on an epic scale, as Monty has done. --Alex Hankin

Review
Finshed copies have been mailed to an extensive list of media including: national newspapers literary editors, regional press and radio, men's magazines and specialist golf magazines. We organised a book signing in the merchandising tent at the OPEN GOLF championship in Sandwich on 16th July, which was very successful, and luckily happened the day before Colin hurt his right hand an

About the Author
Lewine Mair is the only women golf correspondent in the UK. She has written for the DAILY TELEGRAPH for 20 years and has known Monty for ten years. Colin Montgomerie has been Great Britain's most successful golfer of the last decade or more, winning the European Order of Merit for an unparalleled seven successive seasons between 1993 and 1999, and again in 2005. He has played in the last eight Ryder Cups, and is still unbeaten in the singles after his heroic performance in the 2006 tournament.

Customer Reviews

Behind the facade of Monty
Watching Monty on the TV over the last few years has lead to some jeering from my armchair as he throws an infamous tantrum because a passing insect has the nerve to flap it's wings whilst he adopts his stance on his way to a one over par 73. This open and frank account of his life on and off the golf course has made me realise that good old Monty may have his faults but maybe, despite the money he's earnt he is still driven to provide for his family. It's not until the short but significant seperation from his wife that Monty looks deep within himself and realises that golf had taken over his life. This is a fasinating insight into one of Scotlands and the European PGA Tours greatest golfers. All areas are covered from his time spent at college in the States to the Ryder Cup at the Belfry 2002. A really great read.

Still don't know much about him
I have just finished reading the book and am very disappointed. If you do not want to share your story DO NOT WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT. There is almost nothing about his childhod - amateur career - early experiences and nothing at all about what he likes and dislikes away from the course. There is even a full chapter about Tiger Woods, not about his experiences of him as an opponent but about Tiger's early achievements. If I want that I'll read Tigers book. Previous to this I read Sam Torrances which is much more detailed, emotional and an altogether better read.......... Sorry

I may be a bit biased but.....
I actually lived in Ilkley where Monty grew up, and played in the Under 15 Cricket team with him (a photo is in the book - would have been good to have the names of the players but Monty was not there long enough, I fear, to rememebr them all!) so I may be a bit biased. However, it is a very good read and it covers his career from around agred 18 onwards so i learnt a lot about him and the mental make up of him.

Monty is intense but what comes across in the book is something of a man who sets out to win, works hard but maybe lacks some of the true personal touches except when with people lik ehim - honest and straight down the middle guys.

he has done well in his career, the ryder Cup stories are a joy, and it is well worth buying this book even if you are not a golfer as it is more about the man. I look forward already to the follow up