Monty 'not happy' with Sandy Lyle apology

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By Mike Aitken
Sandy Lyle has expressed sincere regret for making incendiary comments about Colin Montgomerie and "a form of what you would call cheating" at Jakarta in 2005 by apologising on no fewer than four separate occasions yesterday – but that may not be enough.
The two-time major winner's bid to make peace with Europe's Ryder Cup captain could not be described as wholly successful. Lyle may have wanted to pour cold water on a heated situation but only ended up dousing the controversy with petrol by failing to withdraw his original comments and effectively repeating his claims.
Montgomerie stated later that he is "not happy" with the position.
Reading, at first, from a prepared statement in the Open media centre at Turnberry in front of a packed audience second in number only to the crowd drawn by Tiger Woods, Lyle attempted to mend fences by saying he was "not at war" with Montgomerie.
Later, however, when he took questions and was asked if he still viewed what Montgomerie had done in Jakarta as a form of cheating, Lyle replied: "I didn't make him do that mistake. It was his mistake. It will probably live with him for the rest of his life. It'll be cropping up. I can't do anything against that."
There was no immediate reaction from the European Tour to the original attack, but it's expected Lyle will be disciplined for his comments, bearing in mind the Tour's regulations stipulate "it's an obligation of membership to refrain from comments to the media that attack, disparage or criticise tournament sponsors or promoters, fellow competitors, the European Tour or its officials."
Lyle, however, seemed in denial about the negative impact of his remarks during the biggest week of the year for golf in Britain. "Well, whatever I might have said (about Jakarta] it's not fabricated. And it's all been well documented, and it's been brought to the light obviously this week or today, not in bad taste, but it just worked out that way. If the European Tour take any action, I'll be very surprised."
Like many unsure public speakers, Lyle began well, but went on for too long.
"In my frustration over continually being asked about the incident at last year's Open Championship (when he walked off the links after nine holes], I regretfully brought up another old incident, one that happened (to Colin] over four years ago, and has long since been resolved. "I was trying to make the point by comparison that neither of these incidents had anything to do with the selection of the current Ryder Cup captain. I deeply regret making this comparison and apologise to Colin for involving him in my own issue. I feel especially bad if I jeopardised his preparation for the Open."
When reading from notes, Lyle was on message. But the ad-libs only served to dig another, deeper hole for himself. Asked for his reaction on the coverage of the original comments, he said: "I felt a bit gutted. I think that, literally, the big lines of calling Colin a cheat, I think that is totally out of context. It's all been well documented. It's all on video. It's not like I'm fabricating."
Asked if he thought Montgomerie, unanimously chosen by the players' committee in January in preference to Lyle, should now resign, he replied: "No. I don't think he should jeopardise his Ryder Cup position right now. It's just something that will be history in a few more days' time – and the game of golf will grow stronger."
As for Montgomerie, he was churning inside that the issue of his integrity should be raised again on the eve of a major championship. He had indicated last week that he would turn up late at Turnberry this week, but he changed his mind and unwittingly found himself thrust into the spotlight.
On leaving the practice range, he was asked if he had any reaction to Lyle's remarks. "Nothing to say on the comments, nothing to say at all," he replied initially. When told Lyle had apologised, the Ryder Cup captain simply shrugged his shoulders.He walked back to the clubhouse at a brisk lick where, coincidentally, Lyle was registering.
Lyle seemed to try and catch Monty's eye, but by now the possibility of a rapprochement between the giants of Scottish golf was slight. Montgomerie went into the club shop to peruse a paper copy of Lyle's remarks while the older man left through another door.
It was like watching a one-act French farce.
When Montgomerie emerged from the shop, he volunteered: "It was a rather strange apology, to be honest with you. I've read (the transcript] and will let you know when I have digested it further. Nothing much to say other than that. I've come here to compete in the Open and my preparations have been slightly dented. And I'm not very happy about that at all. You will hear further from me later."
Lyle said he had tried to speak to Montgomerie yesterday but the mobile number he had was "wiped out". He said: "I've got no vendetta against Colin at all. The last thing he wants is all this baloney going on."He had spoken of safeguarding his friendship with Montgomerie, but there seems little chance of that now.