Monty proves he can go home again

Updated: July 15, 2004, 5:56 PM ET

By Jason Sobel | ESPN.com

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He's been haunted by what-ifs and coulda-beens of majors past. He's been taunted by galleries around the globe.

Called "The Goon from Troon." "Mrs. Doubtfire." "Fat Monty."

If Monty's ever going to win the Claret Jug, he might as well win it in front of his hometown fans.

And through it all, Colin Montgomerie grew a thick skin. He learned not to care what others thought of him. He took all comers head on.

So when, after shooting 69 in the opening round of a major, a reporter says to him, "Can you talk about..." Monty cuts him off, because he already knows the answer. "I can talk about anything. Go ahead."

Such is life in the world of Monty, where the limitations are no more, where caution was thrown into a thick Scottish wind long ago, where -- dare we even think such thoughts? -- anything is possible.

Just a few short weeks ago, it seemed almost nothing was possible. His marriage had failed, taking its toll both publicly and privately. His status as the European Tour's top player had faded long ago. And the once mighty Monty was climbing an uphill battle at a course called Sunningdale. One day, 36 holes, with the right to play in the British Open if he could take fewer strokes than most of the other players in the field. With no limitations, no burdens, Monty won a playoff, won the right to fight for the Claret Jug many thought would have been his five times over already.

And, most importantly to him, he won the right to go home.

As Monty told a jury of his peers just days before the Open, "You can take the boy out of Troon, but you can't take the Troon out of the boy." And now the boy and his home are one again. On Thursday, he played as if he were a 12-year-old boy once again, cruising around Royal Troon, waving to the members -- full of life, full of promise.

"I'm getting terrific support from everywhere, not just on the golf course here today, from everywhere, " said Montgomerie, after finishing the day in a 13-way tie for 13th place. "The letters of support I'm receiving, written and through the office, through e-mail and through the European Tour office are quite incredible."

For a recently separated man playing in the Championship -- his Championship -- support is something Monty needs and covets, and nowhere will he find more than in his hometown.

"I spend a lot of time out on the road on my own," Monty said. "It's different this week because I'm having to stay with my father, who still lives in Troon, and I've been dining out in local restaurants, I've been around at the management headquarters here, along the road. So I'm not shying away from anything and I'm enjoying the whole experience, to be honest, of playing here in the Open Championship."

And why wouldn't he? Birdies at holes 2, 5, 6, 12 and 15 certainly overshadowed the double-bogey and bogey on holes 10 and 11. And it got all those folks from Troon thinking about that little boy again, the one who grew up on the course, full of life, full of promise. And, collectively, they're thinking, just maybe...

After all, as Monty said, "This Open couldn't have come at a better time for me or a better place."

Jason Sobel is ESPN.com's golf editor. He can be reached at Jason.Sobel@espn3.com.