Monty puts mind back on winning the Order of Merit

European number one Colin Montgomerie tried to put the furore of the Ryder Cup behind him on Wednesday as he prepared to defend his German Masters title.

Montgomerie said he did not want to discuss the treatment he received from the hostile American gallery last weekend any further.

Instead, he wants to concentrate his efforts on winning his sixth tournament of the year and securing the European order of merit for the seventh year in succession.

"I know the controversy over the Ryder Cup will go on for months but I think I've said my piece now and I just want to get on with the job of winning the order of merit," Montgomerie said.

"It's up to the authorities, like the American PGA, to try to sort out the crowd problems we had at Brookline."

Montgomerie is more than $600,000 ahead of second-placed Lee Westwood in the order of merit and the Englishman has pulled out of the German event.

"I'm concentrating on winning this week's event to sustain my big lead on the order of merit, counteract anything my opponents can do to try to catch me," Montgomerie said.

"I began the season with a set of goals. The four majors were the first four goals, then the Ryder Cup was the fifth.

"I now only have my sixth goal left, the order of merit."