In an article in today’s People newspaper, Colin Montgomerie scoffs at the success of superkid heroes Lewis Hamilton and Jamie Murray - and claims they have no hope of emulating him in the sporting history books.

Monty, who as everyone knows has never won a Major golf title, reckons neither Formula One sensation Hamilton nor tennis champion Murray will remain at the top as long as he has done.

Considering that the blobby Scot is now 44, that’s a fair bet. But it’s also short odds that Hamilton, in particular, will do something Monty has yet to achieve - and that’s to win his sport’s most coveted prize. In fact, there’s every chance he’ll be world champion this year at the first attempt…and at half Montgomerie’s age.

'The way the bungling Scot inexplicably threw away a two-shot lead over the last couple of holes smacked of a brainstorm . . . a lack of belief that he has what it takes to join the game’s all-time greats'


I don’t rate Murray in the same league as either Montgomerie or Hamilton. He’s merely half of the partnership that won the Wimbledon doubles title - and I wonder how many people had even heard of him three weeks ago? Unlike his brother Andy, it’s 100/1 against him ever winning a Grand Slam singles title, which is of course tennis’s equivalent of one of the four Majors.

Monty will, of course, be hoping to triumph in The Open at Carnoustie this week - and in doing so rid himself of the tag of being the world’s best player never to have won a Major.

He’s been runner-up no fewer than five times - three times in the US Open, and once apiece at The Open and US PGA championships. But, just like Britain’s tennis nearly-man Tim Henman, he’s doomed to failure. Not because he’s not quite good enough - which sadly was the case with Henman - but because when it’s crunch time, our Monty just doesn’t have the bottle.

Until last year’s US Open, I was prepared to accept that Montgomerie was just unlucky. I mean, a guy who has won the European Order of Merit eight times and performed Ryder Cup heroics against the Americans more than once can’t be a mug. But the way the bungling Scot inexplicably threw away a two-shot lead over the last couple of holes at Winged Foot smacked of a brainstorm . . . a lack of belief that he has what it takes to join the game’s all-time greats.

A real champion does not chuck it all away when the finishing line is in sight and all the hurdles behind him. But Monty, facing a gentle run-in and an odds-on certainty to put his Major headache behind him, did just that.

After sinking a 50-foot birdie putt on the 17th green which took him into the lead, he bombed his drive at the 18th down the middle. He then had to wait on the fairway for the group in front to finish before hitting an approach shot which seemed a formality.

Instead, after apparently changing his club selection from a six iron to a seven, he blasted an inexplicably bad shot short and right of the green into thick rough. After pitching on, he three-putted from 30 feet and lost the tournament to Australian Geoff Ogilvy by one stroke.

So near yet so far. But why did it happen? I reckon that, realising his lifetime dream was about to be fulfilled, Montgomerie’s head went. Just as Jean van de Velde’s did in the Carnoustie Open in 1999, when he threw away a three-shot lead on the very last hole.

The Frenchman needed only a double-bogey six to take the title. Disastrously, he took seven after playing the hole like a novice - and Paul Lawrie went on to win the title after a play-off with American Justin Leonard.

Poor Jean’s bottle went went it mattered the most . . . just as Monty’s did in the 2006 US Open and possibly in one or more of those other tournaments in which he finished second best. That’s why I simply can’t see him winning at Carnoustie this week - much as his adoring Scottish public would love him to do so.

In fact, I’m so sure he won’t do it that it he’s crowned Open champion on Sunday, I’ll have a sex change and go 12 rounds with Joe Calzaghe.