Rowing pair make it handbags across Atlantic

The war of the Ryder Cup wild cards was stepped up yesterday when Colin Montgomerie responded strongly to Ian Poulter's suggestion that he should get on with his golf and stop making comments about his "hotline" to captain Nick Faldo, who will name his two selections tomorrow.

"It's nice to be told what to do by one so young and so inexperienced," rapped the Scot, 45, who is 13 years older.

The pair are reckoned to be outside bets behind Paul Casey and Darren Clarke anyway for the last two places which Faldo will announce at Gleneagles after the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship.

Montgomerie did actually get on with his golf yesterday. He moved up the leaderboard with a three-under-par 70 to lie five shots off the pace at the halfway stage while Poulter opened his campaign in the Deutsche Bank tournament in Boston with a one-under-par 70. Casey, who is also in the US, had a 68.

The pair didn't just let their clubs do the talking, though, and Montgomerie added fuel to the flames of a rather petty spat that illustrates the tension among the contenders. Montgomerie and Poulter might be separated by the width of the Atlantic, but the squabble is clearly in the "handbags at 10 paces" category.

Poulter, who opted to remain in the US instead of travelling to Scotland to try to make the team as of right, called Faldo to let him know his decision, and stressed that there had been no indication whatsoever that he was in the team.

Montgomerie said: "The only reason we talked about a hotline to Nick Faldo is because he is the only one saying it. No-one else is. He did say he has spoken to Nick. Has anyone else said that? No. Right then. It is Nick Faldo's decision. Self praise is no praise."

That last remark is thought to refer to Poulter pointing out that he is at least 70 world points ahead of his nearest wild card rivals, whom he believes to be Casey, Clarke and Montgomerie, though Sweden's Carl Pettersson, who had a four-under-par 67 yesterday in Boston, might also be in the running.

What Faldo makes of it all is uncertain, but one thing for sure is that he will want back-biting like this kept well clear of the team room in Kentucky next month.

Poulter and Montgomerie have a history of acrimony. In the Seve Trophy at The Wynyard four years ago, the Scot, who was captaining the GB&I side, was annoyed at Poulter practising after his match had finished instead of going back out on the course to support his team-mates.

Then at the Grove this year in the European Open, Montgomerie was not amused by playing partner Poulter's choice of trousers. "I don't often chase men in pink," was his caustic comment.

Montgomerie himself had been under fire for missing the last two tournaments, but he said his performance yesterday justified his decision to skip the KLM Open in Holland to practise. "There were some technical issues that were wrong and I've sorted them out," he said.

While he was at pains to point out that it was up to Faldo, Montgomerie's assessment was that he had to finish in the top 10 tomorrow to demonstrate that he had recovered his form.

"Nick Faldo knows exactly what I can bring to the Ryder Cup on and off the course. I don't need to speak about that any more than I have," he said.

Meanwhile, there are three places to be decided as of right. Already in the team are Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Graeme McDowell.

The three in line for the next places, Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson, all survived the cut yesterday, Wilson right on the mark, and they are being chased by Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty. Germany's Martin Kaymer, the only other player who could have forced his way in, missed the cut and cannot now make the top 10.

Wilson, in the hot seat of 10th place, was six over par with 10 holes to play and looked down and out, but an eagle 3 at the 12th and a birdie 4 at the 16th brought him over the line with a 72 for 148. "I gave myself a little talking to and tried to stay patient and not try to force it too much," he said.

Fisher, his main threat, slipped back with a 74 for 146. He needs a top three finish to have a chance while Dougherty, who had a 72 for 145, needs to be first or second. Hansen, after a second 71, and Rose, with a 71 for 144, look fairly secure but no-one is taking anything for granted.