Montgomerie not yet decided about Scandinavian defence
Terence O'Rorke
Colin Montgomerie has still not decided whether he will defend his Scandinavian Masters title in Stockholm in two weeks time, a spokeswoman for his management company told Reuters on Tuesday.
The seven-times European number one endured a torrid time at the British Open last week, finishing 82nd at 13-over-par before threatening to withdraw from events in the next two weeks because of his treatment by the press.
Montgomerie was never down to play in the Dutch Open starting on Thursday, but his threat to pull out of the Scandinavian Masters will be a huge disappointment to the organisers of an event he has won three times.
"No decision has yet been made this week about when Colin (Montgomerie) will next play," the spokesperson said.
"His manager Guy (Kinnings) will be meeting him later this week. Guy and Monty will sit down on Friday to discuss it."
If Montgomerie does carry out his threat it will mean an inactive few weeks for the 38-year-old Scot ahead of the U.S. PGA Championship -- the fourth and final major of the year.
As well as not entering the Dutch Open, Montgomerie has not registered for the Wales Open, which precedes the U.S. PGA Championship starting on August 15.
"Colin has not yet withdrawn from the Scandinavian Masters so hopefully he will be there to defend his title," a European Tour spokesman said.
"It would be a shame if he did not play since he's won the title three times. He's not down to play in Wales -- he hasn't played there before and I'd be surprised if he entered this year."
STORM CONDITIONS
Montgomerie, who has yet to win a major title, was accused of stalking off the Muirfield course in a temper on Saturday after crashing to an 84 in storm conditions.
"I'm hurt by it, I'm really hurt. I've pulled out of golf tournaments for the next two weeks. I can't handle it anymore," Montgomerie said on Sunday.
"I would have spoken yesterday. But Tiger Woods was here and you were more interested in him...I didn't storm off. I didn't go off in a temper, okay? "I played in very difficult circumstances yesterday and I'm very disappointed you (the press) keep on trying to believe that I have a bad temper on the golf course.
"I haven't shown a sign of temper on a golf course for five years. I'm very disappointed."
He was reported to have sworn at a BBC radio journalist after his first-round 74 but said later that "peace had broken out" with the reporter after his course-record 64 on Friday.
