Jose Maria Olazabal holed a 30-foot putt at the first hole of the German Masters pro-am event yesterday and then said: "What I wouldn't have given for that on Sunday at the 17th."

Olazabal was still unhappy about those scenes which marred the narrow U.S. victory at Brookline.

The 33-year-old, in Germany to take on defending champion Colin Montgomerie as well as fellow major champions Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, said: "There is nothing in losing a Ryder Cup because that's happened before.

"What was different this time was the behaviour of the crowds - and the players. That should not have happened at the 17th, a very sad point in the match.

"I'll never know how it affected me because it was still a tough putt. But it certainly wasn't any easier after all that happened. The US won the Ryder Cup and, obviously, it was very sad to go so close but so far with such a young team.

"But, win or lose, there were things that happened out there that shouldn't have happened. It all got out of hand."

Olazabal also had words of comfort for Scot Montgomerie, who was the target of barracking at Brookline.

"I don't know why they pick on him. I just know the problem is with the crowds and not Monty," he said. "They are the ones who have to do the behaving."

Former U.S. Masters champion Fred Couples urged Colin Montgomerie to play on the American tour next year despite the verbal abuse hurled at him by U.S. fans at last weekend's Ryder Cup.

"I hope Monty won't be holding any long-term grievance and cancelling U.S. tour events," the American said yesterday. "In fact, I wish he'd play more next year over in the States."

Couples said that Montgomerie, like Australia's Greg Norman, had suffered abuse for years because he was good and hence people picked on him.

"But I don't think any of this is going to affect what happens at The Belfry in two years' time. Everything will have cooled down by then."

Montgomerie has pulled out of the Tiger Woods-backed Williams World Championship held at Scottsdale starting in December, citing family commitments as his reason for not playing.

Today Couples lines up alongside Montgomerie, who can extend his huge lead at the top of Europe's order of merit by winning the Stg£300,000 first prize. It would be Montgomerie's sixth win of the year.

The Scot's nearest challenger on the European Tour, Lee Westwood, withdrew last week as did Paul Lawrie, Darren Clarke and Jesper Parnevik.

Only eight of Europe's Ryder Cup team will feature in the Cologne tournament.

Meanwhile, Montgomerie said he did not want to discuss the treatment he received from the hostile American gallery last weekend any further.

Instead, he wants to concentrate his efforts on winning his sixth tournament of the year and securing the European order of merit for the seventh year in succession.

"I know the controversy over the Ryder Cup will go on for months but I think I've said my piece now and I just want to get on with the job of winning the order of merit," Montgomerie said.

Montgomerie is more than Stg £600,000 ahead of second-placed Lee Westwood.

"I'm concentrating on winning this week's event to sustain my big lead on the order of merit, counteract anything my opponents can do to try to catch me, "I began the season with a set of goals. The four majors were the first four goals, then the Ryder Cup was the fifth.

"I now only have my sixth goal left, the order of merit."