Eight-time European No. 1 Colin Montgomerie has described the Sergio Garcia ‘fried chicken’ controversy as ‘making a mountain out of a molehill’.
For the first time in four days the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA focussed on the action inside the ropes rather than remarks off course.
If anything, the only hint of a word out of place was Ryder Cup winning hero, Ian Poulter correctly describing the miserable weather as ‘it’s pissing down’,
Monty’s reaction to the controversy that drew Tour CEO, George O’Grady into having to make a second ‘unreserved’ apology, was to defend O’Grady and ‘feel’ for Sergio Garcia.
Colin Montgomerie alongside Sergio Garcia at the 2010 Ryder Cup. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
“It’s a mountain out of a molehill, to be honest. Totally! I hope it hasn’t taken away from the BMW who have set up a fantastic tournament,” said Montgomerie after shooting a second round 75 for a two over par tally in the BMW PGA Championship.
“Now we’ve got the chief executive involved in the whole thing having to say sorry. Christ, we’re all frightened to say anything; we’re frightened to open our mouths in case we say something that isn’t kosher in 2013.
“Somebody should tell us what to say because no one is quite sure what is right and wrong.
“George (O’Grady) says coloured, somebody says black, but who is to say who is right and wrong, and for the chief executive who is a very educated man to get caught up then we need to decide what we can and can’t say and move on quickly.
“I felt sort for Garcia but then that’s me condoning it. I am not allowed to feel sorry for him.
“But we are a family here on the European Tour, a close family unit and we stand up for each other.
“I’ve played a lot of Ryder Cups with Sergio and we are a very close family and we should remain that way. This shouldn’t affect us.
“If I asked at the next press conference I’ll have to say sorry, no comment and hope that is not offending anybody.
“You just can’t say a thing, can you? It’s a shame, it’s a pity.
“The three ‘no-no’s’ are race, religion and politics and you are going to upset someone along the line if you mention any of them.
“It’s time to move on and talk about golf.”
While Poulter and double defending BMW PGA champ, Luke Donald missed the cut with respective eight-over and six-over par totals, Monty celebrated his 25th straight appearance at Tour HQ with a round of 75 for a 146 total that will see him play all four rounds.
Monty, who also won the event three years running from 1998, had three birdies in his round but then also double bogeys at nine and 11.
He said: “Middle of the round it went haywire.
“I was going great at three-under and in the top five, at that stage but then messed up when I three-putted eight and the wind at nine got really strong and I hit it into a bunker and took six there and then I hit bad tee shot at 11 and took six there also.
“So, to play from there on in level par was a real good effort.
“But I can’t remember weather like this is in May.
“It was warmer at the match play in September and October. It’s hellish. I’ve got two hand warmers trying to keep my circulation going. I’m glad to have got in at two-over. That was a good battle.”
