Clarke denies Montgomerie rift

“WHATEVER my personal view might be, the reason I’m not playing the Seve Trophy is because of my schedule.”

It was with this slightly ambiguous comment that Darren Clarke last night refuted a newspaper report that he “will hand Colin Montgomerie a massive snub by refusing to play for him in the Seve Trophy next month.”

It was also alleged that Clarke’s decision was a reaction to the storm over Monty’s incorrect drop at the Indonesian Open in March.