Times Pencils Monty In For 2014 Captaincy; First The Great Scot Must Write Unprecedented Apology Letter

John Hopkins and the Times headline writer give Monty the gig based on Monty's presumptuousness. Quite generous for a paper of record, I must say. Funny, I can't seem to find an official announcement anywhere.

Oh, that's right, they need to pick Captains for the two Ryder Cup before 2014!

Meanwhile, Lawrence Donegan isn't quite ready to write Monty's name in yet.

Less reasonable, however, were his thoughts on the captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team in 2014, when the event will be staged in Scotland. "I will do my best to play in 2010 and possibly in 2012," he said in response a question about his prospects of becoming captain. "Then [I'll] do something else in 2014."

The implication was obvious, just as the presumption underlying the comment was outrageous. There are other candidates for the job - Sandy Lyle being the most obvious one - who might argue they deserve a shot at the captaincy in 2014. Montgomerie's legion of fans and media cheerleaders will no doubt view such interventions as "Monty being Monty" and, in some respects, they would be right. His outspokenness is part of what makes him such a fascinating sporting figure.

Meanwhile, seems Monty got a little carried away last week and will be sitting down to craft a doozy of an apology letter. Donegan again:

Less easily brushed aside, however, is his behaviour during the second round of last week's European Open in Kent, when he chided a Sky television sound man who wandered into his gaze as he lined up to play a shot. "I am the reason you are here and don't you forget that," he said, a remark which drew a stinging rebuke yesterday from Ewen Murray, who heads Sky's commentary team. "When he boards the first tee he is akin to an angry incredible hulk," said Murray said yesterday.

Montgomerie seemed suitable chastened when confronted with his friend's unfriendly view of his conduct, saying he intended to write a letter of apology to the sound man. "You know what I am like. I say these things on the spur of the moment. I don't mean them," he added.

Dear Sound Man, I say these things spur of the moment and I don't mean them. What I meant was, we are all here for the same reason and we must not forget that: to watch me play golf. Remember, we are in this together my friend. Yours in harmony and car detailing heaven, Monty