Revelations won’t derail captaincy

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June 4, 2010

Colin Montgomerie has insisted that new revelations about his private life would not impact on his Ryder Cup captaincy.

Colin Montgomerie insisted on Friday night that new revelations about his private life would not impact on his Ryder Cup captaincy.
Montgomerie had earlier issued a statement following revelations by a British tabloid newspaper that he had been seeing a former girlfriend.
Married for the second time two years ago, the 46-year-old Scot said in the statement: “I have put my marriage under considerable strain, but we are are working through these problems.
“I am very sorry for the hurt I have caused to the ones I love so much.
“I would ask that my family and I are given the space and privacy to continue trying to resolve the issues. I will be making no further comment.”
Montgomerie is playing in the Wales Open this week at Celtic Manor, the course near Newport where he will lead Europe’s attempt to win back the Ryder Cup from the Americans in October.
Despite the distraction, he is in contention for a first win in three years after a second successive 70 left him two under par at halfway – only four strokes behind German Marcel Siem and Australian Andrew Dodt as the second round drew to a conclusion.
Agreeing to speak to reporters after his round he was inevitably questioned about the matter and commented: “I have said everything I have to say about that. I made a statement.
“The crowd were very supportive and it’s up to Gaynor and I to work things out. We look forward to welcoming everybody here in October.
“It’s not going to impact on my captaincy at all. Not one bit.”
Montgomerie then told Press Association Sport: “There was no question of me not playing today. The only thing to do today was play golf.”
Dane Thomas Bjorn, who as chairman of the players’ tournament committee was the man who appointed Montgomerie to the captaincy, is also going well in the event on five under.
He teed off just 30 minutes before his former team-mate, but said they had not spoken during the day.
“It’s very much a private matter – nothing to do with me and the rest of the players,” stated Bjorn.
“I think he is doing all right. I’ll leave him to play golf.”