Colin Montgomerie thrashes the European Tour officials as Barclays Scottish Open concludes
Last year’s European Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie came out blasting at the European Tour officials over their decision to curtail the rain-hit Barclays Scottish Open to 56-holes.
The 48-year-old Welshman, who was looking for a strong Top-5 finish, to qualify for the Open Championship next week, failed to make it after the event was shortened.
“The fact that the players are competing for a £500,000 first prize shows how big this event is,” he said. “And it should be played out over 72 holes – that would still allow those competing in The Open Championship to get down to
it on Monday afternoon or Monday night. Obviously, the Tour has been in touch with the sponsors Barclays and they've okayed reducing the event to 54 holes. But you would think if the BellSouth Classic in America can go over into the Monday of the Masters week,
then The Scottish Open can do it.”
Montgomerie’s criticism of the decision made by the Tour Director Mike Stewart and his team of experts will only leave a sour taste at the end of the tournament which has already dealt a severe blow by the unpredictable weather.
Lambasting Montgomerie had initially accepted the tour officials’ decision of shortening the event to a 56-hole but when the Royal and Ancient at Royal St. George’s decided to hold the final qualifying round for the Open the next day, Montgomerie’s tone
changed dramatically.
The tour had already arranged a chartered flight for some 30 players, who will be heading direct to Royal St. George’s but with the unpredictable state of affairs at Castle Stuart, players were not sure how things would turn up.
Montgomerie has not missed the Open Championship since 1989, marking a staggering 21 years. After falling in for a disappointing season so far, Montgomerie was hoping to bring some of his magic back to the course to be able to make it into the Open.
The aging golfer has not won a single event for the last two years and starting off the season at Top-40 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), he has now slumped to 268th.
Castle Stuart received heavy downpours on Friday night, July 8, so much so that the course managers forbade anyone stepping on the turf. Luke Donald, the current world number one, won the event, owing much to the curtailment of the event.
Donald has not only played splendidly well in the current season, but also had his fair amount of luck to consolidate his position at the top slot. He will continue to pose a formidable challenge at the Open Championship scheduled to start from July 14,
this week.
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