The Ryder Cup meant absolutely everything to European golfing legends Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie.
Ballesteros and Montgomerie seemingly saved their best golf for the Ryder Cup, the Scot especially.
While the Spaniard won five major championships throughout his career, Montgomerie was never able to get over the line in one of the biggest four tournaments in the game.
However, he ended his career as the third highest points scorer in the Ryder Cup, and that meant a lot to him.
The now 62-year-old took part in numerous vital singles matches throughout his highly decorated Ryder Cup career.
However, his most memorable moment in the competition came during the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama when his heroics led Europe to only their fourth victory since 1979.
When Colin Montgomerie gave Seve Ballesteros the perfect Ryder Cup send off
The Ryder Cup at Valderrama in 1997 was one of the most closely fought contests in the history of the competition.
After the alternate shot and fourball sessions on Friday and Saturday, Europe held a commanding five-point lead heading into the Sunday singles.
However, things changed quickly as the United States won three of the first four singles matches.
The visitors then took 4.5 points from the next seven games, leaving the scores at 14-13 in Europe’s favour, with one game remaining out on the course.
Montgomerie had battled hard against the experienced American Scott Hoch all day long in Spain.
Heading to the last hole with the game tied at all square, the Scot piped his drive down the middle before hitting a solid iron shot into the middle of the green, just 20 feet away from the hole.
Hoch had a 12-foot putt remaining for par, but the game was over when Montgomerie knocked his putt up to tap-in range.
And in what was a display of real sportsmanship, Monty gave the American his putt for the half, with Ryder Cup victory ensured for the Europeans.
Ballesteros was overawed with joy in the aftermath as he signed off his incredible Ryder Cup career with a win as captain, and he had Montgomerie to thank for that.
Best all-time Ryder Cup records
As mentioned earlier, Montgomerie is up there with the very best when it comes to his record in the Ryder Cup.
To top off his fine record in the competition as a player, he was a victorious captain in 2010 as well.
Back to the playing side though, here’s how he ranked in the all time points list:
| Player | Points won |
| Sergio Garcia | 28.5 |
| Sir Nick Faldo | 25 |
| Bernhard Langer | 24 |
| Lee Westwood | 24 |
| Colin Montgomerie | 23.5 |
It’s surely no coincidence that the top five point scorers in the Ryder Cup are all European.
Their players always seem to save their best for the Ryder Cup, and Montgomerie is the perfect example of that.