Golf: Vox Pop: As he lines up his sixth successive Order of Merit title, just how good is Colin Montgomerie?

BERNARD GALLACHER

Former Ryder Cup captain

It would be remarkable if he won it again. It would certainly rank up there with the best all-time achievements in European golf. It hows how consistent he is and how determined he can be when he gets a scorecard in his hand. Even though Peter Oosterhuis did it four times in a row in the early 1970s, I can't think of any European in my lifetime who has done anything comparable. It's a lot tougher today because the competition is greater, the fields bigger and there are so many more good players than 25 years ago.

TONY JACKLIN

Ex-US and Open champion

If he does it, it would be very exceptional. Obviously, it's a reflection on his incredible consistency over the last six or seven years and there's no question that during that time he's been Europe's best player. No doubt, though, Colin would trade one Order of Merit win for a major championship but I think overall he has been most unfortunate not to have won at least one. He certainly deserves it and is highly regarded by his fellow professionals. If he continues to play this calibre of golf it will surely come.

JOHN JACOBS

Ex-director of the Tour

I'm sure Colin would give all six for one major, but in truth he's been unlucky. I feel the majors are easier when you're a young man and Colin would have won the 1992 US Open at Pebble Beach had the weather not eased for Tom Kite at the back of the field. A victory then might have led to two or three more by now. Sports psychology could polish his career - he obviously finds winning the Order of Merit easy, but majors are harder because he's been close a few times without ever scaling the pinnacle.

PHILLIP PRICE

Tour player

Six in a row would be an amazing feat, but I doubt if it is regarded as such by the public. The top players build their year around the majors and don't concentrate too much on orders of merit. Monty has played only 20 times in Europe this year, which isn't a lot, yet he's won two huge cheques - at the Volvo PGA and the German Masters. He almost wants to win a major too much and that affects his performance, but week to week for five years he's been the best player in the world. No one has matched his consistency.

ALISON NICHOLAS

1997 US Open champion

To do it for a sixth time, particularly when there are so many good players about, would be phenomenal. I know the public don't quite focus on the Order of Merit in the same way as majors but that's something the media implants. Monty's underrated by the press, but to maintain such motivation and consistency over six years is exceptional. No one on the women's tour has come anywhere near his record. Annika Sorenstam is the only comparable player and she's like a machine.

PETER ALLISS

Commentator

It would be unique, but even though he's played well, there are people who say he's a big fish in a little pool - the disappointing way the Europeans played in the World Matchplay didn't help. I won the Order of Merit twice, when the competition was less fierce, so to win five times is extraordinary, let alone six. On the other hand, if you win the right events you can collect a lot of prizemoney. But it doesn't really compare with Faldo and Ballesteros winning five or six majors apiece.