Monty: Ryder Cup choice ‘impossible’
EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has compared his selection dilemma with Fabio Capello’s headache over whether to take Theo Walcott to the World Cup.
England football team boss Capello caused a stir by dropping Arsenal winger Walcott from his final 23 for South Africa earlier this year.
But Montgomerie believes he faces an even harder task, as he has to leave at least one of Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Paul Casey and Justin Rose out of his 12-man party.
“This isn’t difficult, it’s more or less impossible,” said the Scot, who will name his team on Sunday.
“It is most unfortunate that I am going to have to leave out world stars. I am going to have to leave out players that feel they can help the European Tour cause. It’s a bit like Fabio Capello having to leave out Theo Walcott, I suppose. He could only take 23, I can only take 12. I wish I could take 20, because 20 deserve their spots this year. They’ve played great, the standard on tour has been the best it’s ever been.”
Spain’s Sergio Garcia is also relying on a captain’s pick for the biennial contest with the United States at Celtic Manor in October.
Italian Edoardo Molinari, Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and English pair Ross McGowan and Simon Dyson are all hoping to force their way into the team at the 11th hour at this week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods could finally lose his world No1 status for the first time since 2005 at this week’s Fed-Ex Cup, with Phil Mickelson on the cusp of overtaking him.