GOLF: No sour puss, and no scowls. No need for "Be Nice To Monty" badges, like those distributed to spectators at Bethpage a couple of weeks ago for the US Open.

Colin Montgomerie, a slimmer version of the man who won the title last year, is back in Ireland and is as relaxed as a baby after a good night's sleep.

"I look forward to coming here, and have done since I won last year," said Montgomerie, oozing charm and ready for the defence of a title he won in convincing fashion, by five strokes, a year ago. Since then, though, the Scot has won just one more time - at the Scandinavian Masters in August - and has gone almost 10 months since savouring victory.

So, is he hurt by his failure not to garner any more silverware since then?

"I don't see a problem in not winning. I had a couple of seconds in May and lost to Tiger (Woods) in a play-off. I don't feel any great urge where I must win, or have to win or my career is at an end. I am just hoping I can retain a title, a title which I am very proud to have held for three of the last six years."

Ireland, indeed, has been good to Monty. He won two Irish Opens at Druids Glen - in 1996 and 1997 - and also lost a play-off there, while last year's win here at Fota Island was as emphatic as they come.

"I did everything correct last year. It is not the birdies that win tournaments but the bogeys you don't make. It is a course you can make mistakes on and there are very strong par fours and par threes where you can have a problem. If you take the risk, you can fall foul of it."

Since his win a year ago, Montgomerie has had serious back problems. In an attempt to ensure that it doesn't become a long-term problem, he has taken to rising early (6 a.m.) to undergo stomach strengthening exercises to "protect my back".

Of perhaps more significance, he has also learned to say "no" to extra helpings at the dinner table. "I am about 30 pounds lighter than I was this time last year," said Montgomerie, "and I still have a lot to go." The secret? "Portion control. I have been told to eat half of what I am given. I have to do this or my career will be foreshortened by many years because of my back. Hopefully, by doing this, it will extend my playing career."

Montgomerie was winless last season until playing in the Irish Open. On the driving range on the Wednesday night, the eve of the tournament, he discovered a key swing thought. "My ball position was way out of line. I had just had a 74 in the pro-am, went to the practice ground and was there for about four hours before discovering that my hands were too far behind the ball."

Montgomerie believes that he can win this week. "It's the only reason I am here," he said. And, further, he believes a win could be the launchpad for another assault on the moneylist title.

"If I was to win the Order of Merit this year on top of the seven that happened in the 1990s, that would mean more now than putting the seven together.

"To have three years away and to come back and do it again would be very, very nice."

The hunger for glory still pangs away, obviously.