Montgomerie will miss the Masters for only the second time in 17 years

Colin Montgomerie has criticised the Masters organisers for inviting three Asian players for commercial reasons.

China's Liang Wen-Chong, Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh have been added to the field.

"It's a strange way to make up a field for a major championship - TV rights," said the Scot, who failed to qualify.

But Augusta chairman Billy Payne said: "These three individuals are successful, accomplished and talented golfers deserving of an invitation."

The 44-year-old Montgomerie, now ranked 75 in the world, is missing the Masters for only the second time in 17 years.

The three invited players are ranked 111th, 93rd and 80th and the Scot is unhappy at being overlooked for the first major of the year.

"They are quite open about why, just as they were when I missed out last time in 2005, when they picked Shingo Katayama, then 67th in the world. I was 51st at the time," he continued.

"They picked him over me for the Japanese TV rights.

"There are enough Brits in the field, so there won't be a call. Now if I were the only person in the country, a la China, I might get in.

"Let me tell you, I am not the only one who feels this way. In or not, I would be saying the same thing.

"It is the only one of the four majors you can get invited to - you don't get an invite to The Open or the US Open or the US PGA. You have to qualify. But the Masters has its own rules.

"It would be easier to swallow if no one was invited and the entry list was based on sporting and not commercial criteria."

606 DEBATE Invites should be handed out on sporting ability and not commercial interests. bigmac74 606: Have your say

The US Open and US PGA do, in fact, issue invitations from time to time, but usually to past champions whose exemptions have expired or, in the case of the PGA, Ryder Cup captains.

Wen-Chong, Marksaeng and Singh will compete with the world's top 50 players at Augusta National.

And chairman Payne added: "They are outstanding representatives of their respective countries.

"This is also another component in our objective of growing the game of golf worldwide utilising the Masters brand.

"We think the interest in golf in each country will heighten when these players compete in the Masters."