Something tells me this isn’t going to reach Martha Burk proportions. Don’t expect Hootie Johnson — or even current chairman Billy Payne — to lash back at a press conference or sponsors to pull out of the Masters Tournament in the days ahead. Sorry, Colin Montgomerie’s comments will not insure that the telecast will be entirely commercial free.

But don’t dismiss Monty altogether. The sour-puss Scotsman has a point, which he registered recently with The Independent. Save for an Act of God, Montgomerie will be outside looking in when the ball goes in the air on Thursday morning at Augusta National Golf Club.

He will be missing the event for only the second time in 17 years. Currently ranked No. 75 in the world, Montgomerie missed the Top 50 requirement to get his gate pass automatically punched.

At the same time, players from China, Thailand and India, who carry even higher rankings, will be welcomed with special invitations to the first major championship of the season. And that is not sitting well with the 44-year-old Montgomerie, who has seven European Order of Merit badges on his mantelpiece, along with a few Ryder Cup headlines. [The U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship also extend special invitations.]

“Now, if I were the only person in the country, à la China, I might get in,” Montgomerie said during a promotional event in Munich, Germany. “It is a strange way to make up a field for a major championship — television rights. They are quite open about why. They were when I missed out last time in 2005, when they picked Shingo Katayama who was 67th in the world and I was 51st.

“They picked him over me for the Japanese rights. And they have done the same with Thailand and China this time. I am not the only one who feels that way and not just because I am not in. In or not I’d be saying the same thing. It is a strange criterion to pick a major field.”

Welcome to golf’s version of Affirmative Action. Is it awkward in some cases, yes. Strange, perhaps. Maybe even unfair, depending on your view. But here is one other element that rings true here:

Augusta National could not care less whether their tournament meets with Colin Montgomerie’s approval.

The Masters long ago quit being a quaint little golf tournament. The Masters is a finely-tuned, incredibly efficient, money-making machine. It has reached that powerful point by doing things exactly how it cares to do them. The Augusta National membership is not an association, not royal, not ancient. It is a private club and it is comprised of some of the most astute business minds in the country.

The fellas in the green coats are no more concerned about irritating Monty than they are concerned about inconveniencing the press, or inviting a woman to join their ranks. Mrs. Burk, Mrs. Doubtfire … it doesn’t really matter.

Does it seem illogical that 93rd ranked Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, or 111th ranked Liang Wen-hong of China, would get comped into a major ahead of others? In a way, yes, although Montgomerie would hardly be first in line for the next available handout.

On the other hand, the Masters is as much a golf All-Star Game as it is a major championship. Augusta National wants the strongest field possible, but it also wants the most representative, most diverse, most internationally appealing field possible.

Should Gil Meche have been in baseball’s All-Star Game last season ahead of some others? No, unless you wanted every team represented, unless you wanted to give Kansas City Royals fans someone to root for.

If adding a top player from China or Thailand creates a bigger TV audience, draws ratings in Asia, makes the cash registers ring, well, sorry. But that’s what grows the pots, grows the audience, grows the game, makes the world go ‘round.

It’s all laid out ahead of time in black and white for golf’s rank and file. Win a significant tournament, move into the Top 50, collect your tee time at Augusta National. S’true, the members have made exceptions, shown some southern hospitality and occasionally invited distinguished and deserving players in the past.

Problem is, Montgomerie doesn’t necessarily fit the profile. We’re not talking about Gary Player here. Montgomerie has been consistently prominent in Europe, no question. At the same time, he has done next to nothing stateside. He has nary a major championship to his credit. A few close calls, zero cigars.

What’s more, he has not exactly been a ball of fire at Augusta in recent times. In his last four appearances, he has three missed cuts and a tie for 48th on his resume. His last top-10 was 1998.

Certainly, one can sympathize with Montgomerie.

“The Masters is the only one you can get invited to,” Montgomerie went on to say. “At the (British) Open, the U.S. Open and the USPGA you have to qualify. But the Masters have their own rules so we will leave them to it.

“It would be easier to swallow if no one was invited and it was done on sporting and not commercial criteria.”

And if “ifs” and “buts” were Scottish eggs and nuts, they might go down a bit easier. Either way, Monty, you’re going to have to swallow hard.