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Watt's brewing with Monty? |
 November 24, 2003; Source: AnyoneForTee Monty defends steamy temper - it's just Watt's in his genes! 
VALDERRAMA, SPAIN. The secret cause of Colin Montgomerie's notoriously suspect temperament can at last be revealed - Monty is a latter-day descendant of the Scottish inventor of the modern steam engine, James Watt.The relationship has remained a close secret within the Montgomery family ever since young Monty began to visibly let off steam whenever he lost at marbles at his school in Glasgow.  James Watt was born at Greenock, Scotland, on the banks of the river Clyde in 1736. His great grand-daughter married into the Montgomery family in the 19th century, and the resulting physical resemblance in Monty is there for all to see (right). James Watt's partiality for steam has passed down through the generations, and his story inspired the young Monty, who as a rotund and unpopular schoolboy, found solace by keeping his detractors away through an uncanny ability to make steam come out of both ears.During his teenage years the young Scot managed to keep the condition under control, but after he turned professional it began to resurface with dramatic effect. The latest occasion was during a spectacular blow-up at the 2003 Volvo Masters in Valderrama.  The 40-year-old Scot blew his top after just missing with an 18-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole on his second round in Valderrama. He tapped in for par, then stormed off the green before throwing his ball onto a cart path, while steam blew out of both ears like a human double act version of Old Faithful.Montgomerie did not break stride and was already close to the 10th tee nearly 100 yards away when playing partners Thomas Bjorn and Brian Davis holed out. Under the European Tour's code of behaviour, Montgomerie could face a fine. But under stricter rules that come into effect on 1 January next year, he could have been disqualified for a serious breach of etiquette.  But Monty declined to apologise when asked about the incident. "I'd just had my fourth lip-out in a row and I am competitive," he said. And in a shock revelation which finally brought the family secret out into the open, he added: "If I don't have steam I would not be competitive and would not be as successful as I have been. So I'm glad I have it."Pressed on the steam issue during the official press conference, Monty told AnyoneForTee he was glad the secret was out. "For years I've lived in shame, now I'll blow off steam whenever I want and be proud of it." Was this all hot air or could we see Monty yet fulfil his yearning ambition to win a Major, AnyoneForTee asked? "Who said I cared about never winning a ??****!!!!***** Major?" Monty snapped. "It doesn't mean anything to me, nothing... Note: At this point the interview was interrupted as hot steam began to blow out of Monty's ears and nostrils, enveloping AnyoneForTee's reporter in a scalding mist. True to form, Monty then steamed out of the press conference. It was generally agreed, however, that this was for the best, as no-one wanted the press conference to last too long. After all, it was Monty's ancestor who gave his name to the "KillerWatt hour". Golfers of a scientific bent may like to know that the modern unit of energy known as a "watt" is equivalent to one joule per second, a joule being approximately the amount of energy it takes a person to lift a golf ball through one meter. This, and other fascinating facts about James Watt, can be found at: http://www.tartans.com/articles/famscots/jameswatt.html. |
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