Colin Montgomerie could be fined for not attending Sunday's prize-giving at the Irish Open. Montgomerie left Druids Glen and headed for Dublin Airport within minutes of losing a play-off to Chesterfield's David Carter.

The top three players in tournaments are all expected to be present at the prize-giving, although when the event went into a playoff Peter Baker - who shared third spot with Ireland's John McHenry - was given permission to leave to catch a flight.

It was at the Irish Open four years ago that Ernie Els was fined £250 for missing the pro-am prize-giving.

But tournament promoter Paddy Rossi said: "We have no axe to grind. Colin did all what we expected of him during the week.

"He said he felt it was David Carter's day and he didn't want to get in the way. But we were surprised he didn't attend the prize-giving."

Montgomerie was fined £1,000 in 1993 for calling the Moroccan Open "an amateur sham", with European Tour executive director Ken Schofield saying then: "We've lost patience. We want to hear about his golf, not his petulance."

The European number one escaped punishment only two weeks ago after breaking his putter during the first round of the French Open. He told the tournament director there it had been done not in anger, but by accident.

Meanwhile, watching two of the world's great performers has put Tom Lehman in the mood to bid for a two-week double that could put him back at the top of the golfing tree - and earn him over £1 million.

The American is the defending champion in the tournament at Loch Lomond which starts today, and he then moves on to Royal Birkdale to try to regain the British Open title he won at Lytham two years ago.

"I went to see Elton John in Paris last Friday, then saw the men's final at Wimbledon on Sunday," said Lehman. "Ivanisevic gave Peter Sampras a tough match, but what a fantastic competitor Sampras is. It was inspirational stuff, and now I'm ready to go again after a two-week break."

A successful defence on Saturday would be worth £141,660, and the Open champion this year receives £300,000. But Standard Life, the sponsor's of this week's event, will pay out a $1 million bonus if somebody wins both.

Lehman played yesterday with three players who might well be good enough to challenge for the titles, but won't be picking up a penny. Matt Kuchar (20), and 18year-old Spaniard Sergio Garcia are respectively the amateur champions of the United States and Britain, and Hampshire's 17year-old Justin Rose last year became the youngest player to appear in the Walker Cup.

All three could turn professional in the next year, but for yesterday's purposes it was Lehman and Kuchar against Rose and Garcia. "We've got the Ryder Cup and the Walker Cup, so what's this?" asked Lehman. "How about Tin Cup?"

Lehman and Kuchar had to settle for a half with Garcia and Rose - they eventually decided to play for the "Fruit Cup" - and Lehman said: "They all have a lot more talent and poise than I had at their age.

"It was fun. Matt and Justin are feel players, while Sergio is more power. He kills it. They're all very effective."

Kuchar, 21st in the Masters and 14th in the US Open, is on his first trip to Britain and admits he is suffering badly from jet-lag. He is also wrestling with whether to turn professional in the next month.

"I'm due to go back to school (Georgia Tech College) on September 5th, but it's not definite that I will," he revealed. "I've looked at the decision from every angle and right now I'm dead smack in the middle."

Leman (39), finished fifth in the US Open on his last appearance, and although he has not won since Loch Lomond 12 months ago that does not unduly concern him.

Last year, after all, he had not tasted victory for nearly nine months and then produced one of the outstanding performances of 1997.

Lehman beat a world-class field by five strokes, reaching 19-underpar and having only two bogeys in the entire 72 holes.

"I'm not sure I can do a whole lot better than that," he commented. "To shoot that score on this course makes you feel ecstatic."

Sadly, the feeling did not last - he was 24th in his Open defence at Troon a week later.