As far as Colin Montgomerie is concerned, the PGA Tour Champions can move to a new location every week.
Last season the popular Scotsman won the inaugural Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship in Victoria, edging Scott McCarron for the top prize in a three-hole playoff.
Last week he claimed the first Japan Airlines Championship in Narita-shi, Chiba, Japan, once again eking out a one-shot victory over McCarron and Billy Mayfair.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what these inaugural tournaments are all about, but take me somewhere new,鈥� Montgomerie said with a chuckle.
Perhaps China is in order? Or South Korea as the PGA Tour Champions explores new avenues.
Right now he鈥檚 simply focused on defending his Bear Mountain crown, beginning today when he tees off at 10:41 a.m. with McCarron and Corey Pavin in a bit of a super group that will surely demand some following.
鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to be here. I played the last hole for the nth time again,鈥� Montgomerie said after Wednesday鈥檚 pro-am in which he finished on the 18th hole, which he played three times in the playoff win over McCarron in 2016. 鈥淲e look forward to doing it, just not 57 holes this time, maybe 54 holes.
鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to come back again, especially after a win last week. It was super last week. The Japanese looked after us royally and I think the people that didn鈥檛 go are almost regretting it and it should be a better field next year.
鈥淚 had a nice feeling as well last week. The course was good, it was in great condition, as this one is again. The purest greens that any Champions Tour or PGA Tour event I ever putted on,鈥� he said of the Japan stop. 鈥淭hey were like carpets. They were absolutely fantastic and a real credit to the superintendent.鈥�
His attention is now on the Mountain Course.
鈥淐oming back here is a lovely spot,鈥� said Montgomerie. 鈥淭he greens here are better than they were last year, which were good. The green surfaces are fantastic here. We look forward to it.鈥�
It has been a trying year for the 54-year-old, who moved up from 23rd in the Charles Schwab Cup standings to eighth with the win last week that leaves him at $954,394 US in money earned this season. He missed four events with two torn ligaments in his left foot.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 playing a little bit more now, to play catch-up. I鈥檝e had my cortisone [shots] to get me through this six-week run. Thanks to my doctors at home in Scotland to put me right and allow me to play these tournaments, or else I wouldn鈥檛 be able to,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to playing out the season through Phoenix and then allow me to rest. Just put my feet up, literally, and relax over the Christmas period.鈥�
Montgomerie, who won a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles and entered the Golf Hall of Fame in 2013, knows it will be a tough task this week, but he enters it as one of the hottest players. He has recorded 15 consecutive rounds under-par and in that span has five top-20 finishes and three top-10s, including his win in Japan. He has five PGA Tour Champions victories to his name.
鈥淭he standard out here is quite incredible and every newcomer says the same. It鈥檚 very difficult and every win should be celebrated royally because, at the same time, you never know when the next one will be or if that was the last one,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very difficult tour 鈥� a difficult one to win on. You can do OK on, but to win on you have to push out the stops, so I look forward to trying to do something similar to what I did last year.鈥�
He believes his and McCarron鈥檚 mark of 15-under from last year will be the target.
鈥淲e look forward to trying to emulate it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 obviously have as much confidence now as the two [money] leaders, [Bernhard] Langer and McCarron. They鈥檙e playing exceptional golf this year and I have that similar confidence now, starting on Friday, and you need that. I look forward to trying to do as well and out-scoring them.鈥�
CHIP SHOTS: Colourful Bear Mountain sales manager Chris Currie, who gives John Daly a run in trouser selection, will once again handle introductions on the first tee today, which usually brings about friendly banter from the players. It鈥檚 worth catching. 鈥� Did you know that major champions Angel Cabrera, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are eligible for PGA Tour Champions in 2019 and in 2020 Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, K.J. Choi and Canadian Mike Weir hit the magical 50 mark? 鈥� The gate opens at 7 a.m. today and Saturday and at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
