Montgomerie pulls out of tournaments after criticism

Colin Montgomerie has pulled out of his next two tournaments because he says he cannot take any more criticism from the press.

The 39-year-old, who finished the British Open at 13 over par after a closing 75 on Sunday, was accused of stalking off the Muirfield course after his hopes of a first major championship disappeared with an 84 on Saturday.

"I'm really hurt by it, I'm really hurt. I've pulled out of golf tournaments the next two weeks. I can't handle it any more," he said on Sunday. He will miss the Dutch Open and Scandinavian Masters.

Montgomerie's four-round aggregate of 297 was his highest total in 13 British Open attempts.

He was accused in the British media on Sunday of storming away after his disastrous round in appalling weather conditions.

But he told reporters after his closing round: "I would've spoken yesterday. Tiger Woods was here and you were more interested in him.

"I left five minutes after he had finished his round, I was off after him. I left here and no one wanted to speak to me.

"I didn't storm off. I didn't go off in a temper, OK?

"I played in very difficult circumstances yesterday and I'm very disappointed you (the press) keep on trying to believe that I have a bad temper on the golf course.

"I haven't shown a sign of temper on a golf course for five years. I'm very, very disappointed."

Montgomerie was reported on Friday to have sworn at a BBC radio reporter after his first round of 74 but he said later that day that "peace had broken out" with the journalist after his round of 64 set a new course record.

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