Volvo Masters tees off amid controversy

MONTGOMERIE ON OFFENSIVE:

ABSENTEES AND FALDO COME

UNDER FIRE FROM COLIN

FROM THE GUARDIAN WEBSITE, GUARDIAN UNLIMITED

Lawrence Donegan writes in today's The Guardian:

Crisis, what crisis? The Volvo Masters begins at Valderama, today, which will not be too soon for those running the European Tour after a day which saw the internecine squabbling over the scheduling of tournaments intensify and the relationship between Colin Montgomerie, pictured right, and the Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo move from frosty to sub-zero.
After Lee Westwood described the decision to stage Europe's end-of-season finale in Spain at the same time as the Singapore Open as "misguided", Ernie Els entered the fray yesterday, accusing the tour of screwing up its scheduling and forcing him into an unnecessary choice between Asia, where he is believed to be receiving a large appearance fee, and Spain, where he had a chance to win the order of merit for a third time.
"I signed a three-year commitment to play this tournament in Singapore and have one more left after this one, so don't blame me. The European tour knew that I have a three-year commitment to the Singapore Open and I do not make the decision on when a tournament falls, so it's just one of those things," the South African said. "I'd love to play the Volvo Masters but if they screw up the dates then so be it."
Els's anger has been fuelled by the fact that he is not the only notable absentee this week - Westwood and the US Open champion Angel Cabrera have also gone to Singapore - yet he has been on the receiving end of most of the criticism, not least because of his explanation last month that this was the time of year to get his "wheelbarrow" out and earn some cash.

The comment was delivered in a light-hearted fashion and he received full marks for being forthright. But his attitude did not please those who argue the Volvo Masters deserves the best field possible and the order of merit deserves respect, especially from the man who is leading it. Nor did his attitude please - and this will do nothing to reduce the steam pressure from Els's ears - Montgomerie.
"When the word wheelbarrow is mentioned, well that's not right," said the Scot, an eight-time winner of the order of merit and twice a winner of this event. "It's a shame that players who have qualified to play here aren't here. This is our flagship tournament and we should have all our top players here. The order of merit meant a lot to me and it obviously doesn't mean a lot to others."
Asked if he had sympathy for those, like Els, who had fallen victim to the scheduling conflict presented by the timing of the two events, he was emphatic. "Not at all. Deals could have been done where they could have played two out of three years [in Singapore] but this should have been the priority."
Clearly, Montgomerie must have had an extra helping of porridge at breakfast because he barely drew breath before moving on to his next target, Nick Faldo, Europe's 2008 Ryder Cup captain, who had publicly criticised his conduct during the recent Seve Trophy in Ireland, where he claimed the Scot had failed to turn up for team meetings and questioned his commitment to the event.
The former Ryder Cup captains Sam Torrance and Bernard Gallacher have already leapt to Montgomerie's defence. "They spoke on my behalf, even though I didn't ask them to, and defended me, although I have no idea why I had to be defended," he said, comparing Faldo's airing of his opinions to the recent revelations emerging from England's World Cup rugby squad. "My team have spoken to me and found it strange what Nick said. If anyone has a grievance against me on anything - especially with the word 'commitment' being used against me - then please speak to me as opposed to going and airing one's dirty laundry in public. I don't think that's the right way to do anything."
Montgomerie tees off just after noon today, 50 minutes ahead of Justin Rose and Padraig Harrington, both of whom need top-three finishes to overcome Els and win the order of merit. It promises to be a thrilling four days. For the sake of George O'Grady, the head of an increasingly fractured tour, it had better be.