Colin Montgomerie has something of a reputation for thin skin and bat-like hearing. He has an uncanny ability to turn an innocuous comment whispered from the back reaches of the gallery into a breach of golf etiquette the likes of which many of us have never seen. Or something.
It's unfair to call Ian Poulter this generation's Monty -- he has a pretty good relationship with the fans which automatically takes him out of the running, I think; plus as long as Rory Sabbatini's around, he's the de facto winner -- but he doesn't shy away from controversy.
First, there was the contrived drama with Tiger Woods (frankly, I think Poulter came off looking more like a weak-willed child than anything, but whatever), and now, with European Ryder Cup captain and resident loonNick Faldo set to make this picks for the final roster, Poulter and Monty are having a go at one another.
"Oh well, it is nice to be told what to do by one so young and so inexperienced," said an apoplectic Colin Montgomerie last night at Gleneagles, where he is competing in the Johnnie Walker Championship. He was responding to comments by Ian Poulter in Boston, where he is competing in a PGA tour event, to the effect that Monty should mind his own business after the Scotsman claimed the Englishman had a "hotline" to Faldo.Funny how Poulter seems more emboldened when talking about Monty, a great player on the downside of his career, but as soon as the conversation turned to Tiger, he's like a 12-year-old girl.
"I don't need to talk about Monty," said Poulter, then immediately ignored his own advice. "He should just keep his head down and try to play good golf."
"Can you believe he said that?" came Monty's response. "The only reason we said he had a hotline to Nick Faldo is that he is the only one saying he had spoken to Nick. Has anyone else said it? No. Right then."
No idea how this ends up, but in general, the anticipation leading up to the announcements are usually more exciting than actually learning who makes the team. Which is why I think Faldo, in his infinite weirdness, should have Monty and Poulter fight it out, fat-sumo-suit style, for one of the two remaining spots. Just a thought.
