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Montgomerie slams 'commercial decision' behind Masters snub

01/04/2008

Colin Montgomerie has slammed the organisers of the Masters for allowing three Asian players to compete for commercial reasons.

Liang Wenchong, Prayad Marksaeng and Jeev Milkha Singh from China, Thailand and India respectively have been included in the Augusta line up.

But Montgomerie, who failed to qualify for the tournament, believes TV rights have dictated the decision.

"It's a strange way to make up a field for a major championship - TV rights," the Scot said.

This is the second time in 17 years that he has failed to make the competition due to being ranked 75 in the world.

But the three Asian players, ranked 111th, 93rd and 80th have been included - to the displeasure of the 44-year-old Montgomerie.

"There has been no call from Augusta, but then I wasn't expecting one," he said.

"There are enough Brits in the field, so there won't be a call. Now if I were the only person in the country, a la China, I might get in," he explained.

Montgomerie said Augusta was "quite open" about the reasons for his exclusion and compared the scenario to 2005 when he was left out for an Asian player, Shingo Katayama, despite being ranked higher.

But Augusta chairman Billy Payne defended the decision saying the Asian golfers were "successful, accomplished and talented" and "deserving of an invitation".

"It would be easier to swallow if no one was invited and the entry list was based on sporting and not commercial criteria," a disappointed Montgomerie explained.