International Simmering

This morning the talk was Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger and especially Azinger's comments to the Mail about Faldo's personality facelift. "Nick Faldo has tried to redefine himself,"¿ Azinger is quoted as saying in The Mail on Sunday.

I'd say he is both who he is and who he was. Some people have bought it. Some have not. But if you're going to be a p***k and everyone hates you, why do you think that just because you're trying to be cute and funny on air now that the same people are all going to start to like you?

Meanwhile, another international bonfire continues to simmer. Colin Montgomerie's comments about the Asian invites here at the Masters-- India's Jeev Milkha Singh (80th); Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng (93rd); and Liang Wenchong from China (111th) received invitations thought they rank below Montgomerie in the world ranking--have been defused a bit by Montgomerie's manager, but the Asians have not forgot. "He's done in China," said one editor from there, referring to Montgomerie's appearance fees to play in Asian events and course design jobs. Surely an exaggeration, though Thailand's Marksaeng recent comments were as strong.

"I have no idea why he (Montgomerie) said that, but maybe he dislikes Asian players - he never talks to Asian players anyway.

This all gives the three Asian players more incentive to play well here at the Masters. And the real showdown will be at the BMW Championship in Shangai late this month when Montgomerie and the Asians will compete together. "He'll be on our turf then," said another editor, who added that unless Montgomerie says anything else, there will be no more debating the issue in the media. At least not from "host" Liang Wenchong. "[Liang] will let his game do the talking," he said.

--Bob Carney