Colin Montgomerie's golf joy contrasts with LIV Golf's future

With Monty’s explosive history in mind, I genuinely thought the first lesson would focus on how to keep your head still when you’re glowering at a photographer and the second would explain what position your hands should be in when you’re throwing a tantrum at a golf writer who’s just asked about that three-putt on the 18th.

But I digress. Given the latest developments with LIV – the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) finally confirmed it would stop bankrolling the circuit at the end of 2026 – this column was going to be yet another murky meander into the breakaway league.

I will talk about it eventually, but the Monty feel-good story has at least taken me on a pleasant diversion for a few hundred words.

In this wonderful game for all ages, the advancing years have never been a barrier to success, enjoyment and fulfilment.

Montgomerie’s timeless, languid swing remains as smooth as ever and the competitive juices still flow like the Falls of Clyde in full spate.

“This is the beauty of the game of golf that age is just a number,” Montgomerie said after that third round on Saturday “If it was any other sport, you would be well gone by now.”

There’s still some golfing life left yet in this decorated, celebrated auld yin. And, let’s face it, what else would he do?

A few years ago, your correspondent sat down with a 50-something Montgomerie and he mulled over that very question.

He talked about the possibility of moving to St. Andrews and walking the dogs on the West Sands.

“But that would only take until 10 in the morning,” he declared stoutly. “What the hell do I do after that? It’s a long day. So, I’ve never thought about retirement.

"Ely Callaway [golf equipment manufacturer] worked to his last day and he was 82. I’ll do the same thing.

“Whatever it is, I’ll still work in golf and I’ll work, work, work. I will miss the day I’m not competitive; that feeling of holing a seven-footer to win. I love that.”

Montgomerie’s love for the game is undiminished. Some of you, meanwhile, probably won’t have much love for LIV.

What happens to it beyond 2026, when the PIF dosh has disappeared, will keep us all pondering and pontificating for a while yet.

Money can buy you many things. The Saudis and their vast piggy bank wanted to buy the top level of professional golf but loads of money can’t buy the things, like history, tradition and meaning, that truly resonate.

The Saudi cash, bang, wallet approach wasn’t healthy for the pro game as a whole, and it certainly wasn’t sustainable. Pat Perez earned upwards of $17 million on LIV, for goodness sake.

The impending withdrawal of the PIF war chest from the LIV league will, presumably, have the top brass at the Ladies European Tour (LET) looking on with interest. And perhaps some nail-nibbling too.

Saudi involvement in the LET is considerable and the PIF Global Series is worth $15 million to the circuit. It’s money the tour couldn’t turn down.

The PIF, having burned through an astonishing amount on the LIV project, is diverting its attention away from the men’s game. A similar retreat from the LET would leave the women’s scene in Europe highly vulnerable.

The future, of course, is not ours to see. One thing we do know is that come the end of the year, the Saudis will say, well, PIF off to LIV.

I’m sure Monty barked something similar to a gaggle of golf writers when we asked him about a closing double-bogey.

Nick Rodger is a longtime golf correspondent for the Scotland Herald, part of USA Today Co.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Colin Montgomerie shines as LIV Golf faces uncertainty