Montgomerie sacks coach

LONDON - Europe's top golfer Colin Montgomerie has fired his coach Bill Ferguson, who helped save his season last year, the Daily Mail reported on Friday.

The newspaper quoted Ferguson as saying; "He'll be on his own this year."

Ferguson, who first coached Montgomerie as a 10-year-old, rescued the Scot last year when was having a dismal run of form. Montgomerie called him after flopping in the U.S. PGA tournament, pleading for help.

As Montgomerie later acknowledged, the advice turned his season around and he went on to win an unprecedented sixth European PGA Order of Merit title.

The Daily Mail said Montgomerie was not prepared to meet Ferguson's wage demands of around 100,000 pounds ($165,800) a month. Montgomerie offered him one-quarter of that amount.

"I will be happy to continue working with Ian Woosnam, Peter Baker and Paul Broadhurst," Ferguson said.

TRW