Monty eager to retain playing role
A week away from trying yet again for his first major triumph, Colin Montgomerie says he wants to be a Ryder Cup player rather than a Ryder Cup captain for as long as he can.
His confidence boosted by a closing 63 at the Wales Open yesterday – his lowest round for over a year – Montgomerie was asked by PA Sport afterwards about how he felt about a captaincy tilt after Nick Faldo does the job in Kentucky next year.
“In age terms I suppose I’m next up and then Olly (Jose Maria Olazabal) in 2012,” replied the 43-year-old. “If that happened I don’t think anybody would have any qualms.
“But the trouble is that you are talking about two highly competitive players and I would love to keep playing as long as I can.
“I’m a great believer that if you are in the top 12 players you should be playing.
“That said, it’s very hard to turn down the captaincy if offered. But I don’t mind waiting until 2014 – I’d be 51 then just as Nick will be next year.”
The 2010 match is at Celtic Manor, but the next home one after that will at Gleneagles, the first Scottish venue chosen since 1973.
No decision needs to be made on the European captaincy until after next September’s match and what will undoubtedly influence Montgomerie’s thinking is whether or not he earns a ninth cap then.
Switching to a heavier putter did the trick for the eight-time European number one this weekend, although the Sunday 63 was still only good enough to lift him from 50th to 20th.
He plays in Austria this week before flying to Oakmont, the Pittsburgh course where he came off third best in a play-off with Ernie Els and Loren Roberts in the 1994 US Open.
“Let’s hope it’s not so warm – that was the hottest I’ve ever been on a course and that includes Thailand and goodness knows what,” he commented.
Asked if it was the play-off 78 he most thought of when remembering that week he replied: “No. I think of not losing over 72 holes.”
The nearest he has come to winning in the last 18 months was also the US Open, double-bogeying the final hole at Winged Foot last June to lose by one.
Montgomerie had a miserable start to this season, but at last feels upbeat.
“My golf couldn’t go on like it was. Something had to change. It couldn’t get worse – not for someone, shall we say, of my ability.
“I’ve had a dreadful time the last few months, but I now know what I’m doing. I’m more comfortable than I was heading to Winged Foot last year and my appetite is as strong as ever.”
