Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup captain reveals the qualities that make a great team player.
Raise Your Game: Do you still feel that passion and excitement for this game?
Profile
Name:
Colin Stuart Montgomerie OBE
Born:
23 June 1963
From:
Glasgow, Scotland
Game:
Golf
Achievements:
- Selected as 2010 Ryder Cup European captain
- Ryder Cup wins (1995, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2006)
- European Tour international victories: 34
- International tournament victories: 3
- Appointed OBE (2004)
- European Tour golfer of the year (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999)
- Made an Honorary Member of The European Tour (1997)
Colin Montgomerie: Oh very much, and more so than the game, the goal itself. It's hitting a seven iron onto a green and having the opportunity of holding the put which means that I can compete with my playing partner or the 155 other players that are competing on that day.
I love the competition more than I love the game of golf and this is what the 2010 Ryder Cup is all about.
RYG: What are the qualities that make a great team player for you?
CM: Someone who brings that same competitiveness and passion, and someone that hates to lose more than they love to win. That's a real team member.
A confident team is a good and exciting team. The passion that will be brought into this team room will be second to none. We will form a team together to try and regain the 2010 Ryder Cup.
RYG: How important is respectful behaviour on the course?
CM: I think Corey Pavin was right when he said that if a player misses a put for one reason or another, there should be a delay before there's a clap for a European win. Yes there will be competitiveness, but competitiveness that is fair. This is the way that sport should be played always. Win, lose or draw I will be friends with Corey Pavin before, during and after the play.
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