Colin Montgomerie built a career that many golfers would envy, even without ever lifting one of the four major championships. The Scot won 31 times on the DP World Tour, collected three senior major titles on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, and became one of the defining figures of European golf through his eight Ryder Cup appearances. He later captained Europe to victory at Celtic Manor in 2010, adding another achievement to an already remarkable résumé.
Montgomerie was never known for keeping his opinions to himself during his playing days, and retirement from full-time competition has not changed that. If anything, he has become even more vocal on issues affecting the modern professional game. After watching last week’s Open Championship, he turned his attention to a subject that has frustrated players, fans, broadcasters, and tournament officials for years: slow play.
Montgomerie questions lengthy Open Championship rounds
Speaking to reporters, Montgomerie expressed disbelief at how long rounds have become. He pointed to the final round taking five hours and 40 minutes, questioning why no penalties were handed out despite the lengthy pace.
“Five hours 40 minutes, was anybody penalized? No,” Montgomerie said before comparing today’s game with the 1971 Open Championship. He recalled Lee Trevino winning that tournament at 14-under par while completing his round in less than four hours as part of a three-ball.
Montgomerie questioned how professional golf had reached the point where rounds now take almost two hours longer despite smaller groups. He argued that television companies dislike the extended broadcasts, spectators lose patience, and the constant discussions between players and caddies only add to the delays.
Two rule changes Montgomerie wants PGA to make
He also identified two changes that he believes would help speed up play. First, he suggested that once a ball has been placed on the green, it should not be marked again simply to realign it. Second, he criticized the use of AimPoint, the green-reading method that has become increasingly common on professional tours.
“The chat between the caddie and the player, my God, it goes on forever,” Montgomerie said. “The book comes out, how many times have they got the book out? Once a ball is placed on the green, it should not be marked again. To get the line on the ball, and then this business about this, what do you call it, this AimPoint? Oh, my God, don’t talk to me about that. It does my head in.”
His frustration extended beyond individual routines. Montgomerie questioned whether existing slow-play regulations are being enforced at all, repeating that no player was penalized despite the exceptionally long round. For him, that illustrates the gap between the rules on paper and what actually happens during tournaments.
Slow play debate shows no sign of fading
The debate over slow play is hardly new, but it continues to dominate conversations around professional golf. Modern players have access to more statistical data, detailed yardage books, and extensive discussions with caddies before almost every shot. While those tools can help with decision-making, critics argue they have also contributed to increasingly lengthy rounds.
Montgomerie’s proposed changes are aimed at removing some of the routines that consume time without altering the fundamentals of the PGA game. Whether golf’s governing bodies choose to adopt those ideas remains uncertain, but his comments add another prominent voice to a discussion that shows no sign of disappearing. As one of Europe’s most respected figures in the sport, his criticism is likely to keep the spotlight on an issue that continues to frustrate many within the game.
