Monty welcomes Open mobile ban

Updated 16.34 Wed Jul 18 2007
Keywords: Sergio Garcia, Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomerie, golf, sport

Colin Montgomerie has welcomed the ban on mobile phones at the Open ahead of the tee-off at Carnousite.

But the 44-year-old Scot, who is still chasing an elusive maiden Major title, has joked that the likes of mild-mannered Retief Goosen will benefit most.

"It's the other players I feel that was brought in for - the likes of Retief, and people like that, the people that get really upset over these types of things. I'm fine" - Colin Montgomerie

Spectators will have to leave their handsets at security checkpoints as players have previously complained about being put off by them.

A light-hearted Montgomerie told reporters: "It's the other players I feel that was brought in for - the likes of Retief, and people like that, the people that get really upset over these types of things. I'm fine."

Open organisers the Royal and Ancient (R&A) have introduced the ban after last year's event at Hoylake was disrupted by numerous incidents.

Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods were among those to be held up on their final round by the constant interruption from mobiles - as a result, Garcia and Woods were put on the clock for slow play by officials.

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