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No hard cheese for Monty in Italy |
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May 9, 2003; Source: AnyoneForTee.com Grönberg is the big cheese at Italian Open, but no grating remarks from 2nd place Monty |
 BRESCIA. Swede Mathias Grönberg won his fourth European Tour title at Gardagolf in last week's 60th Italian Open, and with it his weight in Parmesan cheese, beating Scotland's Colin Montgomerie by two strokes.But Montgomerie was far from cheesed off with his second place finish. After a 62 in Wednesday's pro-am, he stormed through the field on Sunday with a closing round of 65, having failed to break 70 in his previous eight tournament starts this year.  "You won't hear me complaining about hard cheese", he said, although his cheque for Euros 82.000 was a hundred thousand less than winner Grönberg's. "I didn't intend opening my European year in Italy but I entered to get back some confidence after losing it all in America. I feel very comfortable and respected again, especially after an Italian spectator told me 'Monty, you notta pasta your best'. I'm really looking forward to the next three huge weeks now." Three years after his last title, it was a case of "Say cheese" for Grönberg as he posed for photographers with the trophy. He even managed a cheesy smile as he was presented with his own weight (86kg) of Grana Padano, a form of Parmesan first produced around a thousand years ago by the Cistercian monks of Chiaravalle, who used ripened cheese as a way of preserving their surplus milk, and which by 1477 was held to be the most famous cheese in Italy. The cheese is produced and matured as large "wheels" of 40kg each, so Grönberg's prize amounted to two wheels and a big 6kg wedge. The cheese's makers were however quick to reassure him that, although the taste is fragrant and delicate, Grana Padano ages perfectly for as long as two years, so he can take his time eating it. "I'm pleased to hear it keeps", he told AnyoneForTee afterwards. "It would really grate with me if my wheels went off after this performance, and I'd hate to lose touch with my wedge." Footnote: Readers may like to know that Mathias Grönberg is a member of AnyoneForTee's 007 Club, reserved exclusively for professional golfers who have removed their shoes and socks and rolled up their trousers to play out of water, in the manner of the great Jean Van der Velde at Carnoustie, as this picture from the 2001 Murphy's Irish Open - won, ironically, by Colin Montgomerie - attests.
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