Monty Chimes: Stop Complaining, Start Traveling

Ryder Cup Captain Gone Wild?

As if Martin Dempster’s needless article defending Westwood’s return to the top spot wasn’t enough, now we have Colin “rabbit ears” Montgomerie joining the fray.

“What are they really complaining about?” said Montgomerie. “Is it the fact that they are not getting as many points for their events and we are? Well, the domination was in America the last ten years and they were getting more points than we were. The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this year will damn near be a major championship points-wise because we have six out of the top ten in the world so it’s going to be a huge event points-wise. The Americans are complaining because what happens is that the more top-ranked players you have the more points you generate. It’s true that Tiger (Woods] and Phil (Mickelson] are the only two that travel on a regular basis and can gain points that way. The PGA at Wentworth is open to the top 50 in the world whether you are a member of our Tour or not. Like their TPC in America. They’re very welcome to come over and play in the PGA, try to win and gain more points and climb the rankings the way that we tried to do in our day when we went to the TPC because that’s where the world’s top players were. Now it’s come over to Europe.”

Again, I must ask the question: Who exactly is complaining? Where is all of this uproar about Lee Westwood’s return to #1? Have I completely overlooked a major outcry that has evolved from his win over the weekend???

“While admitting there may be “resentment” in certain quarters that Westwood is the first player for some time to hold the No 1 ranking without having won a major, Montgomerie believes part of the criticism being aimed at the Englishman is purely down to Americans not being able to get their heads around the changing face of world golf. Asked if felt it was down to golfing snobbery, he added: “I don’t think it’s that. I think it’s just that they can’t quite fathom that the power of America has changed. This major power, if you like, once felt superior and it is now different. “The top three in the world are non-American. And they don’t have a major champion. Plus the Ryder Cup. Five major trophies, if you like, that we hold. So they’re going to shout out and say something about why should this be.”

Who exactly is shouting? The PGA Tour commissioner isn’t shouting. He didn’t take it personal when Kaymer, Westwood, and McIlroy declined full PGA Tour membership status. He understood. He also told those guys that they were welcomed to come back and play here in the States anytime they wanted. Is Tiger shouting? Mickelson? Kuchar? Bubba Watson? Again, I ask who is doing all of this “shouting” that Monty speaks of? The occasional quack tabloid sports reporter whose goal is to fabricate this false perception of patriotic bravado? He and Dempster are giving these types the attention they crave?

It’s either that they don’t truly understand that the overriding sentiment here in the States is that yes – Europe is the current hotspot in the world of golf, or they do understand and they’re just going out of their way to remind the bloody yanks anyhow. Either way – who really cares? Isn’t the world big enough for two powerhouse golf tours? Or do we need to do an official World Golf Tour Ranking and see if maybe Europe can debate whether or not they have the better tournaments, the better product?

I don’t understand the ruckus. There is no uproar, there is no shouting, there is no outcry. Except coming from some strange kooks in Europe.

But for what it’s worth, boys…. enjoy the limelight. You’ve waited long enough for it. You’ve played second fiddle for a long, long time and you deserve it. But the least you could do is at least act like you’ve been there before. This “power” has certainly gotten to your heads, already.