Tiger Drop? Flashback to Monty “Cheating†Incident in Jakarta 2005
Colin Montgomerie was lead analyst for Sky Sports during their Masters coverage and offered his views on the “Tiger Drop†situation. But was he qualified to give an opinion after what happened with him at the 2005 Indonesian Open in Jakarta? Here’s what happened.
Monty went to Jakarta trying to secure a top three finish to get him into The Players Championship. He’s really trying but it’s not going well. It’s the second round and the 14th hole and Monty finds himself in a greenside bunker.
After surveying the ball for several minutes, he settles on a stance with one foot in and other foot out of the bunker as the only way to play the shot.
Suddenly the hooter goes, bad weather is on the way, and as so often happens in this part of the world, the round ends up being postponed until the following day. The players leave their balls where the lie and evacuate the course.
The following day Monty returns to the bunker and his ball is gone! He calls his playing partners over and replaces a ball in the exact spot where he deemed the first ball lay. He then plays the shot, both feet out of the bunker and moves on. A lie in the bunker that had caused him a dilemma the evening before, turned into an easy shot the following morning.
Several people contacted the European Tour immediately telling them that Monty’s ball had not been replaced in the same spot. Soren Kjeldsen, who had seen the ball in the bunker the night before, also said it had been replaced in a more advantageous position.
The question then arose as to whether it was done intentionally? Video evidence showed that Montgomerie replaced the ball a foot from its original position. The new position offered a simple stance and did not require any deliberation. No longer any need for one foot in and one foot out, so surely he knew?
Tour officials viewed the evidence and backed Monty. When he himself watched the tape, Monty admitted he did not replace the ball in the same place but steadfastly denied it was intentional. Though officially cleared, he issued an apology and donated his winnings to a local charity.
So did he or did he not cheat? And is Monty qualified to give an opinion on Tiger? Many on Tour will never forgive or forget. But only Monty will ever know.
Monty went to Jakarta trying to secure a top three finish to get him into The Players Championship. He’s really trying but it’s not going well. It’s the second round and the 14th hole and Monty finds himself in a greenside bunker. After surveying the ball for several minutes, he settles on a stance with one foot in and other foot out of the bunker as the only way to play the shot.
Suddenly the hooter goes, bad weather is on the way, and as so often happens in this part of the world, the round ends up being postponed until the following day. The players leave their balls where the lie and evacuate the course.
The following day Monty returns to the bunker and his ball is gone! He calls his playing partners over and replaces a ball in the exact spot where he deemed the first ball lay. He then plays the shot, both feet out of the bunker and moves on. A lie in the bunker that had caused him a dilemma the evening before, turned into an easy shot the following morning.
Several people contacted the European Tour immediately telling them that Monty’s ball had not been replaced in the same spot. Soren Kjeldsen, who had seen the ball in the bunker the night before, also said it had been replaced in a more advantageous position.
The question then arose as to whether it was done intentionally? Video evidence showed that Montgomerie replaced the ball a foot from its original position. The new position offered a simple stance and did not require any deliberation. No longer any need for one foot in and one foot out, so surely he knew?
Tour officials viewed the evidence and backed Monty. When he himself watched the tape, Monty admitted he did not replace the ball in the same place but steadfastly denied it was intentional. Though officially cleared, he issued an apology and donated his winnings to a local charity.
So did he or did he not cheat? And is Monty qualified to give an opinion on Tiger? Many on Tour will never forgive or forget. But only Monty will ever know.
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