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AMERICAN Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger laid into opposite number Nick Faldo and claimed that players want nothing to do with him.

Azinger also said that there was no way Faldo would give a wild card to Colin Montgomerie because of their relationship.

In an article in the Mail on Sunday Azinger ignited what was always likely to be a lively countdown to this Septembers match.

The bottom line is that the players from his generation and mine really dont want to have anything to do with him, commented the man who only last year was sharing a television commentary booth with Faldo.

He did what he did as a player and there are relational consequences.

Nick Faldo has tried to redefine himself. Id say he is both who he is and who he was.

Some people have bought it.

Some have not.

Faldo and Montgomerie used to be cup partners, but Faldo criticised the Scot for his behaviour at last seasons Seve Trophy match in Ireland and Azinger said: I hope he plays against us, but Im worried he wont. He and Faldo dont seem to get along and theres no way Faldo will award him one of his two wild cards.

Montgomerie remains hopeful that that will not be the case if he fails to qualify automatically.

He added: Ive spoken to Nick and its fine. It doesnt concern me. Nick is his own man C hes a very, very individual man.

ö Frances Gregory Bourdy denied David Howell what would have been an amazing victory by winning the Portuguese Open at the third hole of a play-off at Oitavos Dunes.

The Ryder Cup star, so down in the dumps about his game just two weeks ago that he changed coaches, produced a closing 64 that was his lowest round for over two years.

Scot Alastair Forsyth, seeking a second win in three weeks, had also tied on the 18 under par mark of 266 after two closing birdies, but fell out of the race after driving into a bush on the second hole of sudden death.

Howell and Bourdy, who stayed alive with a 12-foot putt there, then switched from the 18th to the 17th and the Swindon golfer missed the green and failed to get up and down.

It was the fifth week in a row on the European Tour that there had been a play-off. It was also the fourth time out of four Howell had lost a play-off.

Barnard Castles Rob Dinwiddie finished in 51st spot after weekend rounds of 71 and 69 left him on four under par.

Bourdy had led by four at the start of the day but a front nine of 39 left him playing catch-up.

Howell, a member of the worlds top 10 after wins over Tiger Woods in Shanghai and then in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, had crashed to 247th in the rankings.

Howells 2006 Ryder Cup teammate Paul McGinley followed his third place finish in Korea by coming seventh on 13 under and Darren Clarkes closing 68 lifted him to 24th.

9:39am Monday 7th April 2008

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