Golf News | Disgruntled Montgomerie Criticises European Tour

The Scottish number one, Colin Montgomerie is not attending the Masters this year. This is only the second time in 17 years that the pro has not competed in the prestigious event. Early in the lead to Masters, Montgomerie had announced that he considered it a matter of pride to earn his place in the Masters this year, the alternative being offered a wild card. Though to do so he needed to climb into the world ranking top 50, which he failed to do.

Monty has spoken to the British press, specifically The Independent publication. Montogomerie did little to conceal his bitter disappointment when speaking about the Augusta National. A scathing account of the event accused eligibility to the competition of pandering to an Asian persuasion because of the television market potential.

A special foreign invitation was extended to Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, Liang Wen-hong of China and Jeev Milkha Singh of India earlier this year. Montgomerie notes that these players have places within the event, despite being ranked below himself. Montgomerie also stressed that in 2005, the only other time he has missed the event, Shingo Katayama was invited, Montgomerie has said that then as now, The Club has not hidden that the invite was because of Asian TV rights.

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