Colin Montgomerie left in a mood by Masters invitations

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13 April 2012

Colin Montgomerie today criticised organisers of the US Masters for inviting three Asian players to next week's tournament at Augusta National for financial rather than golf reasons.

China's Liang Wen-chong, Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, respectively 111th, 93rd and 80th in the world, are additions to the field for the year's first major in Georgia.

Augusta chairman Billy Payne said: "These three are deserving of an invitation. They are outstanding representatives of their respective countries.

"This is also another component in our objective of growing the game of golf worldwide utilising the Masters brand.

We think the interest in golf in each country will heighten when these players compete here."

But 44-year-old Montgomerie, who has missed out after falling to 75th in the rankings, said: "I didn't expect an invite, there are already enough Brits in the field. Now if I were the only person in the country, a la China, I might get in. It's a strange way to make up a field.

"They are quite open about why, just as they were when I missed out in 2005, when they picked Shingo Katayama, then 67th in the world. I was 51st. They picked him for the Japanese TV rights.

"I am not the only one who feels this way. In or not, I would be saying the same thing.

"You don't get an invite to The Open, the US Open or the US PGA. You have to qualify. But the Masters has its own rules.

"It would be easier to swallow if the entry list was based on sporting and not commercial criteria."

Montgomerie needed a top-four finish at the Miami WGC-CA event earlier this month to get back inside the top 50 but fell a long way short.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (61st in the rankings) and Welshman Bradley Dredge (69th) have also missed out.

However, England's Nick Dougherty will be in the line-up despite the latest rankings placing him just outside the top 50. His top-eight finish at last year's US Open, plus his top-50 ranking at the end of 2007, were enough to get him in. Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood are the other English players confirmed for the Masters field, while former winners Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle will boost the British contingent. Montgomerie has missed the US Masters only once before since his debut in 1992.

Meanwhile, Chigwell's Oliver Fisher hopes to bounce back from his disappointment at the Andalucia Open last weekend to win a European title before the end of the year. The 19-year-old was beaten in a playoff by Frenchman Thomas Levet after being three shots ahead with six holes remaining.

"I'll be back in contention more times this year and, hopefully, go on and win maybe one," Fisher said. "The decisions I made on the last hole were pretty good. I just hit a slightly bad tee shot."

It was Levet's first win for four years and after the event he said the Essex youngster could be the next Nick Faldo.

"I was flattered to hear that," said Fisher. "It's great to be compared to Britain's most successful golfer."

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Colin Montgomerie left in a mood by Masters invitations

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