It's captain Monty as Scot gets Ryder Cup nod
DUBAI: Scotland's Colin Montgomerie was named here on Wednesday to captain the European team to contest the Ryder Cup against the United States at Celtic Manor in Wales next year.
Montgomerie replaces Nick Faldo, who came in for a barrage of criticism for his captaincy during the European loss to the United States in Louisville, Kentucky last September.
That defeat ended a run of three consecutive European wins and led to calls for the naming of a younger skipper than Faldo who was 51 at the time.
Montgomerie told a press conference here: "Having lost the last Ryder Cup in Valhalla, it is important that we do everything that we can and I promise you that I will be doing everything I can to claim back the Ryder Cup in Wales in 2010.
"With the wealth of talent on the European Tour we could field three teams almost as strong as each other."
Montgomerie made his Ryder Cup debut as a player under fellow Scot Bernard Gallacher in 1991, and he recalled: "I dreamt one day this opportunity might come my way, but they were far off dreams - now, 17 or 18 years later and here it is."
The 45-year-old Montgomerie is the second most successful European Ryder Cup golfer of all time behind Faldo and he said he expected another hugely popular Ryder Cup figure, Jose Maria Olazabal, to be alongside him as part of his background staff in October 2010.
"I have an understanding and respect for Olazabal, and I'm sure he will be part of my team at Celtic Manor."
The Americans have already named former US Open champion Corey Pavin to be their captain next year replacing the victorious Paul Azinger.
Montgomerie, capped eight times in the Ryder Cup and victorious five times, said that he had played against Pavin three times in the competition and came out on top twice - "just".
Asked if he would consider following Azinger's initiative of asking for four captain's picks in the 10-strong team (Europe currently has two) Montgomerie said it was too early to say.
The European Ryder Cup committee next meets in May. The next Ryder Cup will be held at Celtic Manor outside Newport from Oct 1-3, 2010 with the Americans defending.
AFP
(China Daily 01/31/2009 page11)
