Monty spares Scotland's blushes

Colin Montgomerie has saved Scotland, last year’s runners-up, from the possibility of having to qualify for November’s World Cup in China.

Montgomerie, who with Marc Warren lost a play-off to Germans Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem last year, has committed himself to the event.

Without that the Scots, who have never won, would have struggled to be among the 18 exempt nations based on next week’s world rankings.

Ireland could be in that position, though, with Open champion Padraig Harrington deciding to miss the event this year.

The next highest-ranked player is Graeme McDowell at 126th.