Monty Makes Mark at Maiden Volvo China Open
15/04/2009
In Beijing today (Wednesday), 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie was presented with a special achievement award from Volvo, the only ever-present sponsor in recognition of one of the most remarkable playing careers in world golf.
At a special ceremony ahead of the 15th anniversary Volvo China Open to be held at Beijing CBD International Golf Club from 16th – 19th April 2009, Montgomerie was presented with the ‘All Time Volvo Masters Order of Merit Award,’ in recognition of his unprecedented success as the leading money winner at the Volvo Masters, which was, between 1988 and 2008 the season-ending climax of the European Tour season.
By applying the equivalent of the 2008 Volvo Masters prize money to his finishing positions over the 21 years of the end-of-season showpiece, Colin Montgomerie came out the clear winner with a corresponding total of €3,990,000.
In making the presentation of a specially-commissioned and engraved crystal trophy to the Scotsman, Per Ericsson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Volvo Event Management said, “Colin Montgomerie is undoubtedly the player of his generation and to demonstrate such immense skill, consistency and charisma over such a long period of time is a quite remarkable achievement and a testimony to his enduring competitive spirit and commitment to European golf.”
Accepting his award at what is his first Volvo China Open and his 501st European Tour start, Montgomerie said, “I have always enjoyed playing in Volvo-sponsored championships in general and the Volvo Masters in particular because they are invariably very prestigious and presented to the highest quality,” adding, “Volvo set the gold standard on the European Tour and out here in Asia and as players – and as a Tour, we owe a great deal to Volvo for their contribution to our sport.”
He continued, “I have been fortunate enough to win nine Volvo-sponsored tournaments and seven successive Volvo Order of Merit titles, so I am highly appreciative that my achievements has been recognised in this way,” adding, “Hopefully, if I play well this week, I might be winning my 10th Volvo-sponsored championship crown.”
Second in the ‘All Time Volvo Masters Order of Merit’ was 1994 outright champion Bernhard Langer, who shared in Montgomerie’s success in 2002, earning the equivalent of €3,053,000 in 14 appearances with 2001 Volvo Masters champion Padraig Harrington in third place, winning the equivalent of €2,792,000.
Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, both Past Masters were fourth and fifth respectively, Sergio García, a three-time runner-up at Valderrama in sixth place in the ‘All Time Volvo Masters Order of Merit,’ whilst Montgomerie also left players of the calibre of Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and 2009 US Masters champion Angel Cabrera trailing in his wake.
Starting his second 500 European Tour championships at his Volvo China Open debut, Colin Montgomerie comes to Beijing a remarkable 1,597-under-par for his first 500.
The Scot travels to Beijing both in hope and expectation, having already enjoyed considerable success in China, where he won the won the TCL Classic in 2002, the Macau Open in 2003 and the Hong Kong Open in 2006.
“It would be nice to add the national open golf championship of China to my roll of honour,” said the 2010 Ryder Cup captain, adding, “I am always made to feel exceptionally welcome by the Chinese people and would thank the China Golf Association for this opportunity to play in what is an increasingly prestigious national open golf championship.”
Montgomerie also has considerable business interests in China, with his designs at Zhuhai Golden Gulf Golf Club, Nanshan West Donghai, Golf Club and the Haikou Meishi Mayflower International Golf Club already in play and the 27-hole layout at Liuxi Hot Spring Resort layout currently under construction.
Notes to Editors:
Colin Montgomerie’s Volvo-sponsored championship victories are;
1993: Volvo Masters Andalucia
1994: Volvo German Open
1995: Volvo Garman Open
1998: Volvo PGA Championship
1999: Volvo PGA Championship, Volvo Scandinavian Masters
2000: Volvo PGA Championship
2001: Volvo Scandinavian Masters
2002: Volvo Masters Andalucia#
# Title shared with Bernhard Langer.
Montgomerie also won the Volvo Order of Merit in seven successive years, from 1993 – 1999 inclusive before adding an eighth Harry Vardon trophy in 2008.
Colin Montgomerie’s finishing positions as the only ever-present in the 21 years of the Volvo Masters were;
1988: 62T
1989: 54T
1990: 8T
1991: 15T
1992: 2#
1993: 1
1994: 4T
1995: 2
1996: 29T
1997: 8
1998: 3
1999: 16T
2000: 9
2001: 7T
2002: 1T#
2003: 10T
2004: 19T
2005: 3T
2006: 28T
2007: 17T
2008: 22T
T = Tied
# = After Play-off
The top 20 in the Volvo Masters All Time Order of Merit:
1. Colin Montgomerie
2. Bernhard Langer
3. Padraig Harrington
4. Darren Clarke
5. Lee Westwood
6. José Maria Olazábal
7. Nick Faldo
8. Miguel Angel Jiménez
9. Mark McNulty
10. Paul McGinley
11. Sam Torrance
12. Angel Cabrera
13. Sandy Lyle
14. Ian Poulter
15. Severiano Ballesteros
16. Iain Woosnam
17. Peter O’Malley
18. Alex Cejka
19. Ronan Rafferty
20. Rodger Davis