Will he go down as one of the greatest Ryder Cup players in history? One of the most brilliant players ever to play on the European Tour?

Or a major champion?

As Colin Montgomerie prepares to celebrate his 43rd birthday Friday, we still don’t know.

Just when we thought he was out of the major picture, Monty has come within a few swings of winning and British Open Championship and a U.S. Open. He chased Tiger Woods last year at St. Andrews and Phil Mickelson last weekend at Winged Foot.

He was poised, focused, spot-on and smiling. At least until he decided to change clubs on his approach at the 18th hole. And then, well, history will record what followed as his fifth runner-up finish in a major.

The approach was short, the result double at that 72nd hole.

But huff, puff and harrumph? Nope, Monty chose the glass half-full approach to a week when he contended on the toughest course in recent memory; a course where adjusted par was closer to 75 every day; a course that might have smacked down a younger, less mature Monty.

"I found reserves of character even I didn't suspect were there at that moment," he said. "I knew I could dig down deep, but possibly not as deep as that. I feel I can be proud of myself.

Montgomerie finished tied for second at the U.S. Open. (WireImage)

“Coming back like that will be a big help to me the next time I find myself in that position -- and the way I've battled here, I know I will be in contention at the majors again over the next four or five years. But I must admit, I wasn't quite so confident about that side of things when I was standing on the fifth tee."

Ah, Monty. The Scot has defied the odds in Ryder Cups and won eight -- count them -- Orders of Merit. And over the weekend he remained composed several times -- most notably starting Saturday’s round with three bogeys -- and remained on his feet and in contention when so many others fell away.

“This is as difficult as it gets,’’ he said. “You wonder sometimes why you put yourself through this.‘’

What sets Monty and others apart is they keep coming back. This was Monty’s 14th U.S. Open and third runner-up finish the first two came to a decade or so ago -- at Oakmont in 1994 and Congressional in 1987 and both to Ernie Els. He was third in 1992 at Pebble Beach, where Tom Kite won. At the PGA, he lost a playoff to Steve Elkington in 1995.

Monty has matured in the last decade, overcoming his bluster and temper in America and turmoil in his personal life. He had a brilliant run of seven straight Orders of Merit (1993-1999), then, after struggling in 2003-2004 when he was in the midst of a divorce, he bounced back to win his eighth OM in 2005. He’s still winning period across the pond and isn’t letting little things bother him on U.S. courses.

“I think I put too much pressure on myself through this sort of ’95 through ’99-2000 to win one of these things, and it wasn’t working. And I didn’t win because of that possibly,’’ he said.

“You know, I think the expectation of me in the 90s to win this thing was very high, and I gave it a go a couple of times and was not quite close. I think the expectation was lower this particular year or the last few years that I haven’t contended, and it does make a difference where you are more relaxed.’’

Despite a new attitude, he has been inconsistent in 2006. He won the USB Hong Kong early, but has missed four cuts on the European Tour and, notably, missed cuts at THE PLAYERS Championship and Masters.

But what he did at Winged Foot? His swing coach Dennis Pugh told the BBC we’re going to see more -- not less -- of him.

“He has got a good few more years left in him and he can come back from this. He is not too old to win majors," said Pugh.

At 43, they’ll mean more to him, perhaps, than they would have at 33. And, yes, he’s preparing for Hoylake.

His performance certainly, too, got the attention of Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam, who’ll count on him heavily at the K Club. Monty has been Mr. Ryder Cup -- the European leader -- for more years than the U.S. would like to remember. You draw him in singles, said Thomas Levet, and you’ve lost already. He sets the tone, the spark in every Ryder Cup year.

And this U.S. Open finish? Well, it can’t hurt. At the Ryder Cup or at the next two majors. Or at next year’s U.S. Open, which, you might say, he’s looking forward to.

“At my age I've got to think positively,’’ he said. “Being 43 next week, it's nice to think I can come back nine years after contending and do well again.

“I look forward to coming back next year and try another U.S. Open disaster."

He meant the course -- grueling Oakmont. Not the 72nd hole.