Colin Montgomerie
A dominant force in European golf for a decade, his fierce competitiveness and major championship near-misses defined an unforgettable career.
Born 1963 (age 63)·Scottish professional golfer·Birthday: June 23·Baby Boomers
Biography
Colin Montgomerie strode the fairways with a palpable intensity, a figure who commanded European golf throughout the 1990s with a combination of brilliant ball-striking and a will to win that could buckle opponents. He owned the European Tour Order of Merit, topping the money list a staggering eight times, including seven seasons in a row—a streak of sustained excellence unlikely to ever be matched. His record in the Ryder Cup was stellar, becoming a talisman for the European team with a famously unbeaten record in singles matches. Yet, his narrative is also one of agonizingly close calls, particularly in the U.S. Open, where he finished runner-up three times without ever lifting a major trophy. This contrast—between continental dominance and major heartbreak—cemented his complex legacy. He was not always loved by galleries, especially in America, but his skill was undeniable, and his passion, often worn on his sleeve, made him one of golf's most compelling characters.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Colin was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the European Tour Order of Merit a record eight times, including seven consecutive titles from 1993 to 1999.
- Accumulated 31 European Tour victories, placing him fourth on the all-time list.
- Was a pivotal member of multiple European Ryder Cup teams, compiling an outstanding 20-9-7 record in the event.
- Finished as runner-up in five major championships, including the U.S. Open three times (1994, 1997, 2006).
Did You Know?
He captained the victorious European Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor in 2010.
Montgomerie won a record eight Harry Vardon Trophies for leading the European Tour Order of Merit.
He never won an official PGA Tour event in the United States, despite his success worldwide.
His father, James Montgomerie, was the secretary at Royal Troon Golf Club, where Colin learned the game.
“The Ryder Cup is why we play the game. It's the greatest event in the world.”
