Monty shows his lighter side as coach

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Colin Montgomerie is known for a notoriously short fuse, something that has worked to his detriment as one of golf's most talented players to remain winless at the Majors.

Thee emotional pyrotechnics have also made him a figure of fun, especially for galleries in the United States who have tried to rile him up to witness the spectacle of a Monty meltdown.

The prickly side of his character was in evidence on Thursday's opening day of the Standard Chartered Indonesia Open 2005, when the Scot scolded photographers trying to take a shot of him teeing off.

"That's typical Montgomerie," an organizing committee official muttered.

But the onetime not so jolly fat man has slimmed down, recovered from his divorce last year and has his heart set on making the Masters in April.

He has already climbed from 83rd at the beginning of the year to 54th, but a win at Cengkareng Golf Club in West Jakarta is his last hope of moving up into the PGA's top 50 to qualify for Augusta.

And the father of three is not all about hissy fits; some of his best performances have come when playing on the Ryder Cup team, and he was voted the "ultimate European Ryder Cup legend" in a BBC Sport poll for giving his all for the team.

Born in Glasgow, Montgomerie went to university before turning professional in 1987. In 389 appearances, he has won 29 titles, finished runner up 26 times (including at three majors) and third 18 times.

Montogomerie, who turns 42 in June, said the weight loss was a deliberate move for health and fitness.

"I do diet. I don't eat pasta and rice. But I think it would be difficult for you if you don't to eat rice," he told The Jakarta Post.

Another lighter side of Montgomerie was also seen when he led an afternoon coaching clinic.

He joked with his "students", and quickly established a rapport.

"Don't think, don't make it difficult. If you are confident, then you are almost there."

He also told his class to ease up when holding the club.

"A light grip is one of the keys to playing golf. I see amateurs here holding the golf stick firmly. It's not good."

After a student made a good shot, Montgomerie praised him.

Strangely, the student asked: "What is the problem?"

Montgomerie laughed. "You made a good shot, but you asked 'what is the problem?'. You're the problem."

Giving the coaching clinic helped put the Scot at ease after what he called a disappointing three-under par 67 on the opening day.

"I can put aside for a while my golf performance today," Montgomerie said.

"I need 62, 61, 61 in the remaining three days to win the tournament," he said, noting the humidity on Thursday was a factor.

Like everything, he knows it will take commitment to recoup and carve out a win. It's nothing new to him.

"My principle is work hard, play hard. If you work hard, the rewards will follow."