Another Monty blow up

Colin Montgomerie doesn't suffer fools gladly, so it's not too surprising he had a run-in with a television reporter Friday.

Montgomerie, after challenging for the lead, bogeyed three of his final six holes for a 70 that left him five strokes off the pace.

He obviously wasn't too pleased with his finish, but nonetheless spoke at length with a large, largely-British press contingent.

However, after a few minutes, he got into a heated exchange with Scott Roberts, a reporter for WJXX, a Jacksonville ABC affiliate.

The exchange started after Montgomerie said: "I'm playing very well and I like this course. I've got a good record here and hopefully I'll be competing at the weekend and get up there, because I'm playing well enough."

That's when the fireworks began. Here's the exchange, word for word.

Roberts: "Confidence wise, heading into Saturday and Sunday, you seem a little disappointed. Confidence wise, where do you stand?"

Montgomerie: "Wouldn't you be after dropping three shots. Obviously you're not a golfer."

Roberts: "I've played a little bit."

Montgomerie: "Well obviously not enough."

Roberts: "You're a professional. I mean, how do you buck up for the weekend."

Montgomerie: "I've just said I'm confident and I'm going to compete at the weekend. I'm playing well enough. I just said that."

Roberts: "No you didn't."

That was enough for Monty. He ended the exchange by walking off with barely another word.

After he left, Roberts was in no mood to back down: "My view on Colin Montgomerie is exactly what the public perception is. He's a prima donna," Roberts said.

"He's a professional athlete. Act like a professional athlete. We're professionals out here trying to do our job and to be treated like we get treated is ridiculous."

Make up your own mind who was at fault in this exchange. It wasn't the first run-in Montgomerie has had with the American media, and it won't be the last.

For what it's worth, I side with Montgomerie in this instance. After hearing all of Montgomerie's interview, I thought Roberts' first question was unnecessary, because the question had pretty much already been answered.

I don't know whether Roberts was trying to provoke Montgomerie for some juicy footage, or whether he accidentally antagonised him.

If his motive was the former, he certainly succeeded.