No apology required from Evans

Gary Evans was today told he did not need to apologise for his controversial comments over the rules row involving Colin Montgomerie.

Evans claimed “98%” of tour members were not happy that Montgomerie had escaped any sanction – besides a brief statement expressing the European Tour tournament committee’s “dissatisfaction” – over his incorrect drop during the Indonesian Open in March.

Montgomerie donated his €36,000 winnings to charity after viewing footage which showed he had replaced his ball in the wrong place after a suspension of play, but kept the world ranking points which helped him earn a place in this month’s US Open – much to Evans’ apparent unhappiness.

European Tour chief executive George O’Grady was furious with Evans for re-igniting the issue during the tour’s flagship event last week, and demanded he apologise to the tournament committee, of which Montgomerie is a member.

But the committee’s chairman, Jamie Spence, today insisted Evans did not need to apologise and Montgomerie was guilty of only an “inadvertent, minor breach” of the rules.

“I spoke at length with Gary on Tuesday, he didn’t apologise and I didn’t expect him to,” said Spence, speaking at the Wales Open from which Evans withdrew on Wednesday with a back injury.

“I don’t want his apology. It’s a free world. I want the members to be able to say what they want but say it to us or George (O’Grady). I think the timing of his comments were very poor but I don’t think he fully understood the issues involved.

“I’ve been very friendly with Gary for years and I know what he’s like and he’s no need to apologise to me.

“I think the players feel we should have taken some action but there is no action to take. Colin broke a rule and the referee at the time agreed he didn’t incur a penalty.

“The biggest mistake was not marking his ball and I think there were circumstances around that – ie the lightning and the fact he was hot under the collar and very angry with himself.

“The fact is Colin inadvertently broke a rule of golf which, under our rules, is a minor breach. It should have been a two-shot penalty and, if he had signed his card, then it would have been disqualification.

“In hindsight you cannot disqualify somebody – this is a misconception - after the event. Nor can he disqualify himself and give back his world ranking points.

“He felt it was a nice gesture to donate his prize money but I don’t think he was admitting any guilt. The facts are that all he did was inadvertently break a rule of golf.

“We put ourselves on a high moral ground as golfers and it’s difficult to live up to.”

Although it is common practice, Spence admitted he was amazed that, under the rules of golf, a player is not required to mark his ball in the event of weather delays.

“I understand if someone hits a 300-yard drive and there is lightning around you don’t want to run down and mark it as there is an element of danger, but if you are standing next to your ball the committee feels very strongly this should be a rule of golf,” Spence added.

“We will make a recommendation to the R&A regarding marking of the ball. If any player is in close proximity he should mark it. If you come back and the marker is missing then you get the referee in to agree where to put the ball back and there is no dispute.”

The affair totally overshadowed Angel Cabrera’s victory in the BMW Championship at Wentworth and looks destined to follow Montgomerie to Pinehurst now he has moved back into the world’s top 50 to qualify for the US Open.

But Spence is hopeful his explanation of the issues will now bring the matter to a close.

“I thought I had better come in and clear this thing up once and for all and in hindsight maybe I should have explained in more detail the decision we came to at the committee meeting at the Forest of Arden,” he added.

“Maybe it wouldn’t have gone on this far. It is the end of it for me. If the players feel they can do better, they can take my job if they want.”