Montgomerie Waffles

Colin Montgomerie, set to join the PGA Tour next year, tried to placate U.S. players still angry over his comments during the Ryder Cup, particularly those concerning Brad Faxon’s marriage.

“My remarks did not come out as I intended and I regret that this has occurred,” said Montgomerie, reading from a statement at the Dunhill Cup, which begins today. “I especially regret the personal nature of remarks about members of the team.”

Montgomerie took the lead in gamesmanship for the European Ryder Cup team in Spain last month.

He said his team had 12 players who could beat Tiger Woods and that if the Ryder Cup came down to a 4-foot putt he’d want Scott Hoch to have to make it, a reference to the 30-inch put Hoch missed that cost him the 1989 Masters. But it was Montgomerie’s remark that Faxon is “going through a divorce and mentally I don’t think he will be with it” that created the most heat.