Golf legend Colin Montgomerie, affectionately known as Monty, recently revealed that he’s grappling with significant health issues, which have cast a shadow over his future in the sport. This admission followed his performance at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship at Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen, where the impact of his health on his game became painfully apparent.

Montgomerie shared, as quoted by Golf Week USA Today:

“I haven’t been well the last six months, I have been very poorly. I have been taking a lot of time off. I have never done that in my life.

“I might take the rest of the year off. I need to, I’m not well. “

When asked if he could elaborate, the Scottish golfer would only say that his problems were “internal.”

Despite these challenges, Montgomerie’s performance at the Championship was commendable, although not up to the high standards he once set for himself. He scored a 1-under 71 in the first round and followed up with a 73, landing him within the top 15. Reflecting on his performance, Montgomerie said:

“Colin Montgomerie of old would have shot 66,” he said with the kind of yearning sigh that could’ve been accompanied by a wistful Perry Como song.

“Colin Montgomerie at 61 shoots 71. It is as simple as that. I maximize every score right now. That is what I do every round. It’s frustrating. You can’t score 67 when you have played 67-ish.”

The possibility of retirement looms large for the golf icon, with Montgomerie suggesting an early withdrawal from professional golf might be imminent.

Outside the green, Montgomerie mused about a life beyond golf, with a touch of humor regarding his potential new hobbies.

“It’s about to become an awful lot better,” chuckled Monty as he responded to questions about how is gardening is.

“There’s lots of grass to do, I can’t wait. I’ll be like Bob MacIntyre’s father. But me putting the clubs away in August? It’s unheard of.”

Montgomerie is a renowned Scottish golfer with a distinguished career. He holds a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles, with seven consecutive wins from 1993 to 1999. Montgomerie has secured 31 European Tour victories, the most by any British golfer, placing him fourth in all-time European Tour wins.

He achieved three consecutive Volvo PGA Championships at Wentworth Club from 1998 to 2000 and was runner-up five times in major championships, reaching a career-high world ranking of second. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013, Montgomerie has also triumphed in three senior major championships on the PGA Tour Champions and European Senior Tour since turning 50.