“David, please don’t start this."

I'm not sure what's funniest in Andrew Both's Onion-worthy write up of Monty's infraction that cost him a chance at a massive check. That he lost to a retiree? That his penalty occurred because he failed to read the local rules sheet? No, it's that he tried to dissuade the rules official from doing his job.

The incident occurred when Montgomerie’s drive finished a couple of yards behind an advertising sign in the fairway, which blocked the player’s second shot to the hole. Montgomerie’s caddie, Jason Hempleman, and a marshal pulled the sign out of the ground in breach of a local rule.

“Under the conditions of this competition, which are given to every player, the advertising signs (are) temporary immovable instructions,” tournament director David Parkin said. “You can't move them.

Unfortunately for Colin, his caddie has helped in the movement of this board. As soon as he moved that it's a two-stroke penalty under our conditions.”

Montgomerie conferred for several minutes after his round with Parkin before signing his card.

Earlier, Parkin approached Montgomerie on the 18th tee to inform the player of the problem. Montgomerie was clearly livid: “David, please don’t start this,” he said.

“Nobody else has moved them,” Parkin said of the signs.