BLOOMFIELD HILLS, United States (AFP) - Scotland's Colin Montgomerie has struggled with divorce and slid to 62nd in the world rankings but is ready to lead Europe's defence of the Ryder Cup in what has become his golfing legacy.
The 41-year-old Scotsman, a weekend British Open contender in his boyhood home of Troon, was unmercifully heckled at the 1999 Ryder Cup in Brookline, Massachusetts, with taunts of "Mrs. Doubtfire" or "Scotland Lard" and worse.
But a slimmed-down Montgomerie, a captain's choice of European mastermind Bernard Langer, doubts US fans will fire such insults this time when the Americans challenge for the trophy in the biennial golf matches.
"I don't think we're going to have that problem here. That has been done and that's a thing of the past," Montgomerie said. "I don't think that Brookline will appear again. I think the world is a different place, a better place since then. I don't think we will have that situation at all."
Montgomerie has an impressive Ryder Cup record of 16-7 with five halved, including a 4-0 mark with two halved matches in singles.
He went 4-0 with a halved match in 2002 and 3-1 with a halved match in rough 1999 conditions that won the respect of Masters champion Phil Mickelson.
"Nobody was more impressed than I was in '99 when he took a lot of ribbing and was able to perform at the highest level of anybody there," Mickelson said. "Maybe that's kind of a word to the wise. Maybe we shouldn't piss him off."
Montgomerie warned that a tight bond among European players makes an insult to one an insult to all.
"I don't think it's just me that it might upset. We take it together as a team and I think we will all build on that," he said. "We are prepared for any eventuality but I don't feel that will happen in any way."
Montgomerie's year has included a very public split with wife Eimear, not unlike the situation facing Nick Faldo at the 1995 Ryder Cup when he delivered a crucial victory over Curtis Strange to help Europe capture the Cup.
"They know he's a rock when the pressure comes on," Langer said. "They know he can perform."
Montgomerie would not talk about the divorce or how it might affect him.
"I'm here as part of a European team. I'm here for a team competition this week. Please keep your questions to a team format if you don't mind," he said. "No personal questions will be answered here."
Montgomerie's performance under pressure on the course has brought all the answers his Europeans teammates need.
"Monty's record speaks for itself. He has been there and done it," Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke said. "Last time at The Belfry he raised his game and played unbelievable golf. A lot of us are looking to him to do the same again."
England's Lee Westwood added, "He doesn't really have to say too much. He has just got presence - the way he has played in past Ryder Cups proves how solid a player he is and how good he is. He seems able to elevate his game."
Irishman Padraig Harrington said the entire European team takes a lift from Montgomerie's leadership.
"He feels it's his calling. He's that sort of personality," Harrington said. "He loves to lead. He loves to be that person out there. You can see he has got an air of confidence about him. His confidence rubs off on the rest of us.
"It feels very natural for him to be that sort of leader. He's very comfortable in that position. I'm sure he feels that's what he was destined to be."
Montgomerie struggled with the "Best Player Never to Win a Major" tag after losing PGA Championship and US Open playoffs and a US Open duel with Ernie Els. The seven-time European Tour Order of Merit champion's legacy is in Ryder Cup.
"That would be a fantastic legacy if I go down like that," Montgomerie said. "The championship business - I've been quite close a number of occasions and just haven't managed to walk through a half-open door. One of these things.
"If the golf gods are smiling on me, one day it might well happen. If that's my legacy, about this competition, I'll be very glad to take that with me."