Open 2009: Evans stands by Scot for raising Jakarta

Published on Tuesday 14 July 2009 22:49

GARY Evans, the former professional who claimed in the aftermath of that mistaken drop at the Indonesian Open four years ago there was "smoke around" Colin Montgomerie, has lauded Sandy Lyle for raising the issue again.

Although Evans was rapped at the time by European Tour executive director George O'Grady for making "disrespectful and unacceptable comments" about Monty, the golfer didn't regret his stance.

"I kicked up about Jakarta because for me it was a clear case where a proper refereeing decision needed to be made and wasn't," he said. "The rules state once a tournament is over you can't go back and change a ruling, and that is something that needs to be looked at too.

"My feeling was always that if I was pulled up on a possible rules infringement I would take the punishment even if I didn't think I'd done anything wrong. The very fact that someone thought there was an element of doubt would be enough for me. And the same would apply to the vast majority of Tour players.

"Mud sticks, as Monty's case shows. That's why this has resurfaced. The only way to avoid it is to be whiter than white. As I said at the time, there was a feeling Monty's punishment didn't fit the crime."

Although the Tournament committee expressed dissatisfaction at the time with the Scot's actions and declared the matter closed.

Evans added: "I think it's good that this has come out at a time when the European Tour seems to be trying to send out a warning about cheating, because that gets lost if you just target relative nobodies like Simon Dyson and Richie Ramsay.

"It could have been done more effectively years ago when they had a high-impact player like Monty involved in a massive controversy. Monty involved in a massive controversy. But instead it was brushed under the carpet.

"Without question there is a feeling among players that some high-profile performers appear to get away with murder, while lesser players tend to get picked on. Everyone I know feels that is the case. That is very disappointing, because this is such a serious issue. Hopefully, the Tour has recognised that they should have handled situations better in the past – like Jakarta – and will stamp down on anyone doing anything irregular.

"I have always felt that referees need to make more judgment calls based on what they see, rather than what a player says. They are paid to uphold the rules, whoever the player is," Evans went on. "A few weeks after it all blew up you saw Darren Clarke show at the Irish Open how players should conduct themselves. He marked the exact position of his ball in deep rough when play was called off because of bad weather, and came back the next day to see some 'helpful' spectators had trampled down the grass to give him a perfect lie.

"Darren could easily have gone for the green, but instead he chipped out sideways as he probably would have done the previous day. That gesture was aimed at one player – Monty – and we all applauded Darren for it."

&#149 Following Sandy Lyle's accusation of "cheating" against Colin Montgomerie, Scottish betting firm, McBookie.com, is offering 10-1 that either of them will be disqualified from this week's Open for cheating.

Meanwhile the firm is also offering 20-1 that Lyle will drop out of the competition by walking off the course like he did in the first round last year – complaining of the cold. In a match bet it is 1/7 that Montgomerie beats Sandy Lyle.