Monty laughs off row

Published on Saturday 18 April 2009 20:05

COLIN Montgomerie believes his altercations with a photographer and a cameraman at the Volvo China Open underline the potential for misunderstanding that can occur when taking the European Tour to the Far East.

Montgomerie's temper boiled over during his second round when he banished a photographer who had irritated him from inside the ropes on the 14th hole. A short time later the 45-year-old hooked a drive into the water and as he trudged down the fairway to find his ball, barked at a cameraman, "Don't film me."

Reflecting on the incidents, Montgomerie said yesterday: "It's very difficult. This is an emerging nation golf-wise, and is an emerging nation in most events. It's the understanding – the etiquette – of the game that sometimes the Chinese and the Koreans and the Thais and these emerging countries over here in the Far East tend not to appreciate."

Montgomerie's mood had not been helped by a disappointing round of 73 and a two-over score at the halfway point of the co-sanctioned tournament. "Unfortunately, they picked the wrong guy and the wrong time," he jokingly added.

The Scot did better yesterday at Beijing CBD International Golf Club, carding a 70 to move to level par going into today's final round. He is eight shots behind the leader, Richard Finch, who will take a one-shot lead going into the final round after six consecutive birdies around the turn proved the cornerstone of a blistering third-round 66.

He is on eight-under, one shot ahead of playing partner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano who shot a four-under 68. Ashley Hall lies third on five-under having equalled the course record with a 65 earlier in the day alongside Markus Brier, who carded a one-under 71.

But Paul McGinley slipped out of contention after briefly sharing the lead when dropped shots coming in saw the Irishman fall to even par.