Montgomerie’s Wait Doesn’t Quite Pay Off : U.S. Open: Scotsman posts an early number, but Nicklaus’ prediction doesn’t come true.

Jack Nicklaus should have known better. After all, no one remembers the ABC-TV kiss of death better than Nicklaus, who received the hated peck on the cheek a decade ago, when Pebble Beach last played host to the U.S. Open.

Now Colin Montgomerie knows it, too. It is a Sunday smooch he could have done without.

Some history is in order. In ‘82, Nicklaus was sitting in the network’s broadcast booth waiting for Tom Watson to finish his final round. The two men were tied for the lead as Watson arrived at the par-three 17th. A playoff was a distinct possibility.

Then Watson hit his tee shot over the hourglass-shaped green and into the deep rough. He had no chance, what with the impossible lie, the difficult pin placement, the hardened green and the pressure of needing a par to remain in contention. The tournament was Nicklaus’.

At least, that’s what everyone said in the ABC booth. Commentator Jack Whitaker went so far as to congratulate Nicklaus on his wonderful victory. Even Nicklaus found it hard to disagree.

So what happens? Watson chips it in for a birdie. Then Watson birdies No. 18, a par five considered one of the toughest finishing holes in the world. Watson wins by two.

Ten years later, and much to Montgomerie’s dismay, history was repeated. It happened quite by accident, but it happened.

Montgomerie, a Scot who somehow spent four years at Houston Baptist University and whose father is the secretary-manager of famed Royal Troon Golf Club, began the final round of Sunday’s U.S. Open in 28th place and six strokes behind leader Gil Morgan. But thanks to a mid-morning tee time, when the wind had yet to whip itself into a frenzy, and the collapse of Morgan and other challengers, Montgomerie made up ground. Lots of it.

“I wasn’t thinking about winning golf tournaments,” Montgomerie said. “I had a goal of finishing in the top 16 to get back to the Masters next year. That was my goal at the top of the day.

“My goals changed as the day progressed.”

Montgomerie was still two under at the turn. But that was before he scored birdies on No. 10, No. 14 and No. 16. A bogey on No. 17 didn’t help, but it wasn’t harmful, either, especially when Montgomerie parred No. 18 to finish the tournament at even par after a 70.

“When I finished, I thought it was a good performance, (that) I might win,” he said.

Montgomerie was ushered to the ABC booth off the 18th green. Waiting for him was Nicklaus, who had failed to make the Open cut and was now serving as a color commentator. The two men shook hands.

“Congratulations,” said Nicklaus warmly, “on your first U.S. Open victory.”

Moments later, Tom Kite, who had moved into the lead, holed a nasty chip from the rough for a remarkable birdie on the par-three seventh hole. It moved Kite to four under par and Montgomerie that much further away from a championship.

Montgomerie, who was watching the dramatic shot on a monitor, closed his eyes in disbelief. Then he looked at Nicklaus.

“He turned the other way,” Montgomerie said.

Nicklaus was the same guy who boldly predicted that if Montgomerie parred the 18th hole, “the tournament’s over.”

Still, Montgomerie had a chance and a good one at that. If the wind continued and the tough holes on the back nine did their usual damage, who knew what might win the Open?

“He’s a long way to go,” Montgomerie said of Kite. “Three shots can go at any time.”

Montgomerie was left with nothing to do except watch, wait and wonder. He talked about wanting to win the tournament so he could help his caddie buy a new house. He recalled his career at Houston Baptist--the Scot in Texas. He talked about the specialness of winning a major title.

Just then, the crowd roared from afar. Montgomerie tilted his head slightly toward the television. Kite had just birdied No. 12 to return to four under.

“Oh, we’ll see,” Montgomerie said.

What Montgomerie saw was this: Kite birdie No. 14 and then give back the stroke on No. 16 . . . and another on No. 17 to fall to three under. By then, Jeff Sluman had moved into second place, nudging Montgomerie to third.

So much for the Open championship.

Montgomerie wasn’t upset. He said Kite deserved the Open trophy, especially after surviving Pebble’s finishing holes. But for two long hours, as Montgomerie stared at the TV and Kite’s march toward a first major, there was a chance for the improbable.

That is, until Nicklaus opened his mouth.