By Mark Garrod PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

Imagine what could have happened to Angel Cabrera if he belonged to a tour that required its players to speak English. A powerful Argentine who rose from an impoverished childhood, he won the U.S. Open last year at Oakmont by holding off Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk. In the hours after the trophy presentation, Cabrera made his way through a maze of media interviews in Spanish with an interpreter at his…

Imagine what could have happened to Angel Cabrera if he belonged to a tour that required its players to speak English. A powerful Argentine who rose from an impoverished childhood, he won the U.S. Open last year at Oakmont by holding off Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk. In the hours after the trophy presentation, Cabrera made his way through a maze of media interviews in Spanish with an interpreter at his…

^ The only golfing Tiger Woods is doing these days is in video games. “I do play quite a bit,” Woods said. “A heck of a lot more now.” The world’s top-ranked golfer has been sidelined since winning the U.S. Open in June, recovering from surgery on his left knee to repair a torn ligament. Woods said in a telephone interview that he plays friends in tournaments on EA Sports’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour game.

^ The only golfing Tiger Woods is doing these days is in video games. “I do play quite a bit,” Woods said. “A heck of a lot more now.” The world’s top-ranked golfer has been sidelined since winning the U.S. Open in June, recovering from surgery on his left knee to repair a torn ligament. Woods said in a telephone interview that he plays friends in tournaments on EA Sports’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour game.

Ryder Cup hopefuls Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie had encouraging opening rounds in the Johnnie Walker Championship on Thursday. Clarke shot a 1-under 72 and Montgomerie had a 74 on The Centenary Course at Gleneagles, where Frenchman Gregory Havret took the first-round lead with a 68. Nick Dougherty had a 73 to start a late bid to rise from 14th in the standings to the top 10 who qualify…

Briton Colin Montgomerie clung to
his Ryder Cup hopes on Thursday despite trailing Johnnie Walker
Championship leader Gregory Havret by six shots after
Thursday’s opening round.

Briton Colin
Montgomerie clung to his Ryder Cup hopes on Thursday despite
trailing Johnnie Walker Championship leader Gregory Havret by
six shots after Thursday’s opening round.

By Andrew Both PA SportsTicker Golf Writer

Colin Montgomerie might be prepared to work alongside Nick Faldo at the Ryder Cup after all - if, that is, he does not get a captain’s pick on Sunday night.