Montgomerie blames lack of golf etiquette among spectators for outbursts at China Open

Monty blames etiquette problems for outbursts

BEIJING — Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie said Saturday that his latest outbursts at a photographer and a TV cameraman at the China Open were the result of a lack of understanding of the etiquette of golf among some followers of the game in the Far East.

While shooting a 1-over 73 during Friday’s round at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club, Montgomerie shouted at a photographer who was taking photos during his swing and later told a TV cameraman in his line of sight to move, yelling “don’t film me” as he searched for his ball.

“It’s very difficult,” Montgomerie told BBC Radio 5 on Saturday. “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.

“Unfortunately, they picked the wrong guy and the wrong time.”

Montgomerie recovered with a 2-under 70 on Saturday but is tied for 15th and eight shots behind leader Richard Finch of England.