That's been the question that seems to have gripped a nation in the emotional aftermath of Andy Murray's Wimbledon weepings. For some hard-hearted cynics, it was a sign of weakness. For other more sensitive, considered souls, it was a welcome show of raw emotion. Colin Montgomerie is a man who could melt a tank with one of his trademark glowers after dribbling a two-footer past the cup on the 18th to miss the cut by a shot. So into which camp does the former Ryder Cup-winning skipper fall?
As he battled for centre stage with the considerable presence of Donald Trump at the official opening of the American tycoon's Aberdeenshire links yesterday, Monty turned his thoughts back to both Centre Court and the days when he was usually holding court on the global golfing scene.
The 49-year-old, who was last night heading back down the A96 to prepare for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, has always worn his heart on his sleeve – and sometimes, during a particularly torrid day, his shoulders at his shins – and the eight-time European No.1 appreciated and applauded all that Murray displayed in the aftermath of his bitter loss on Sunday evening.
Montgomerie knows only too well the anguish that comes with defeat in a major championship. The Scot has finished second five times, including play-off losses in the 1994 US Open and the 1995 US PGA Championship. "Andy did a great job and for me one of the best moments of the final was his speech afterwards," said Montgomerie, who racked up further second-place finishes in the 1997 and 2006 US Opens, as well as in the 2005 Open at St Andrews.
"He showed them what it meant to him to be in with a chance of winning Wimbledon. It is similar to myself in many ways, as people don't understand the pressures involved in trying to win a major.
"I was tearful after a couple of losses – in 1997 at Congressional especially, as I felt I should have won that one. I was tearful going home that night. It does affect you. You are trying your damndest and sometimes I don't think the public understand what is involved.
"I do think they understand now about Andy Murray as a result of him opening up to them for the first time. It came across extremely well for him and for Scottish sport, too.
"I don't think I was understood. I was trying my hardest to beat the world's best and win major championships. If it was that easy, I'd have done it long before now, believe me. It's not easy and he showed a human side, if you like, that we hadn't seen before and that was nice to see."
As a fiery competitor, particularly in the Ryder Cup arena where he remained unbeaten in the singles between 1991 and 2006, the diminishing of his powers has been hard to take for Montgomerie.
Without a European Tour triumph since 2007, Monty, who currently languishes down in 464th place on the world rankings, managed a season's best of 31st in the Volvo Golf Champions event at the start of the current campaign.
Despite the downturn, there remains the usual defiance. Having failed to qualify for the Open for the second successive season, after an unbroken run of 21 appearances on the trot, Montgomerie would need at least a top-five finish here in the Highlands to earn a tee time for next week's showpiece at Royal Lytham. As ever, the targets remain high.
"There will never be a moment with me when I think about throwing in the towel," he said. "I'll never give in as a competitor as that's what drives me. Far beyond the game of golf is the love of the competition, and I can see that with Andy Murray as well. I can see that he loves the competition as much as he loves the tennis.
"My game isn't bad, I just keep making silly mistakes that compound other ones. I'm not getting the run of the ball either and that's not helpful. In my golden years, so to speak, the run of the ball went for me, there's no doubt about that. Now the luck I get is generally bad. I would love to win again anywhere. I can't be picky any more. If it was the local tiddlywinks championship I'd still take it. That's why I'm standing on the first tee at Castle Stuart. If I get everything together the way it used to happen and also putt well I can still win. That's why I'm here."
Given the way things have been going for Monty of late, however, it could all end in tears.
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