Golf legend visits Afghanistan 25.11.11
12A world away from the perfect fairways of the pro golf tour, Colin Montgomerie gave a master class in one of the world's unlikeliest driving ranges. For over an hour he gave personal coaching to forces golf fans spread out across the windswept dust of Camp Bastion, Britain's massive supply base in Afghanistan. As he expertly drove ball-after-ball onto targets borrowed from the rifle ranges, he joked how helicopter gunships low overhead might cramp his drive. The Ryder Cup-winning captain spent four days in Afghanistan between international tournaments, boosting morale and equipping Bastion's very first Golf course, with thousands of pounds worth of donated equipment. He told troops he did not realise how few stars had risked a trip to Helmand. "I thought there were so-called celebrities and sportsmen out here on a weekly basis." "But it doesn't happen. This is irregular and it's fantastic to come out here and showcase golf to you guys."