James Lawton: Monty close to a Falstaff without fun

Ian Woosnam, who is never likely to be accused of taking himself too seriously, has made a timely contribution to the latest crisis-drama psychological eisteddfod – you name it – cooked up in the mind of Colin Montgomerie.

Monty has let it be known that he will give the Ryder Cup captain, Sam Torrance, a verdict on his availability next Sunday, which of course provides nearly a full week of national anguish over the possibility that he might not be around to lose 6 and 5 to Tiger Woods. Montgomerie says: "I have to feel that I can play five times and if I can't then I won't go." This would be unfortunate but perhaps not the end of the world. Torrance's deputy captain, Woosie, however, moved swiftly to comfort those of nervous dispositions, saying: "He will be there – Monty is saying that kind of thing all the time."

Why? Is it just a relentless failure to get any kind of perspective on himself and the world he lives in? Is it because he never picks up a newspaper or listens to a broadcast and has missed the fact that kids are dying by the million in Africa and that by the time he does or does not tee off a week on Friday we might be in the beginnings of the Third World War?

There was a time when there was a touch of the Prince of Denmark about Montgomery. It was so important for him to be, rather not to be, a major golfer and, given the brilliant promise of his game, we could all join in the intrigue. Sadly, as Shakespearean roles go, Monty is getting close to playing Falstaff without the conviviality. As Woosie implies, he is down to his last option. It is to just play the game and in that way give everybody, including himself, a little peace.