What Jack Nicklaus told Colin Montgomerie at the 1992 US Open which was completely wrong

What Jack Nicklaus told Colin Montgomerie to cause US Open heartbreak

The 1992 US Open was played at the iconic Pebble Beach, where Montgomerie was making his debut at the event. And in challenging conditions on the Californian coast, he’d come into the clubhouse at even par, going out early in the day. 

It was a really solid performance, but not good enough for the lead. However, the winds at Pebble Beach had picked up, gusting to 40 mph. Suddenly, the leader, Tom Kite, double bogeyed the 4th, as scores everywhere tumbled.

That led Nicklaus to give false hope to Montgomerie. He revealed in 2019, “[Nicklaus] shook my hand and said to me: ‘Congratulations on becoming our national champion.’ I thought, ‘Blimey, if Jack Nicklaus is telling you that you’ve won, it must be true.’

“I can remember that afternoon as clear as day. After meeting Jack, I headed back to a hotel lodge nearby where my manager at the time, John Simpson, was staying. I remember all these thoughts running through my head. Do I prepare a speech? The television was on and I was pacing up and down, wondering what to do.

“I did think I had a heck of a chance. I knew the wind had picked up and it was gusting 40mph. Then Tom holed a miraculous chip at the 7th, and birdied the 12th, a hole that is basically impossible even on a calm day.

“The doubts then started to set in, and the thought that maybe Jack was wrong.”

Kite played superbly in the conditions, hanging on to claim his first and only major championship. As for Montgomerie, his major win would never come.

Colin Montgomerie named the biggest regret of his career

Montgomerie’s continual, cruel shortcomings at the US Open never dampened his view of the event. Instead, the notoriously difficult tournament was his favorite, but he’s still hurt that he never won.

He said, “It was the event that began my love affair with the US Open. It was like Rafa Nadal on a clay court for me. I loved the fact so many hated it, I felt that played into my hands and I was a couple of strokes ahead before I began.”

But Montgomerie admitted he still has regrets about never winning the US Open. He called it “the biggest of my career, by far”.

Because of that, Nicklaus’ words may still be ringing in his ears all these years later.