Golf:An angry Colin Montgomerie could not believe his ears today when he was told that some of his team had teed off in the Ryder Cup without knowing the right position of the flag on the opening green.
Officials took a decision to move the hole location, but brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari did not have the amended sheet with them as they went one down in the opening foursomes to Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan.
“I can’t believe what has been said on the first tee,” commented Montgomerie. “If they were offered the revised sheet and didn’t take it that’s not right. It’s a shame, but they are playing okay and I am very confident with them.”
Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer were handed a hole, meanwhile, because of a blunder by foursomes opponents Jim Furyk and rookie Ricky Fowler.
Already one down, Furyk pulled his drive on the 461-yard fourth, but although his partner was given a free drop because of the state of the ground he took out another ball.
The rules stipulate that you must continue with the same one. Furyk, accepting the punishment with no argument and putting his arm round Fowler’s shoulder, said: “I drove a Titleist off the tee and he had one in his pocket.”